NY Islanders vs Florida Panthers NHL Playoff Game 5 Odds Report

NY Islanders vs Florida Panthers NHL Playoff Game 5 Odds Report

Written by on April 21, 2016

Hockey fans will be the first to admit that the regular season in the NHL pales in significance to the playoffs. Hockey is a fast, rugged sport, but everything gets cranked up to full volume once postseason play begins. The pace seems to increase dramatically, and every hit seems just that much harder and painful. Moving on to the next round as quickly as possible is the goal off every team, as this allows time for bodies to heal, and for the batteries to be partially recharged. That said, there are some series that just seem doomed to go the limit, and many of us believed that the first round match-up between the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers was one that had that potential. It looks as though things are going exactly to plan, as both teams head back to Florida on Friday night for Game 5 with the series hanging in the balance at 2-2. This one may prove to be the pivotal game in the series, and you can wager on it at our MyBookie.ag NHL betting lines portal.

How To Bet The Islanders vs Panthers Game Info

When: Friday, April 22 at 8 PM EST Where: BB&T Center, Florida TV: CNBC Radio: Islanders and Panthers Live Stream: CNBC NHL Odds: TBA

Why bet on the New York Islanders

The Islanders did not close out the regular season very well, and probably deserved to be a slight underdog for this series. You have to wonder if there is some level of doubt in their own minds, as they have squandered a great opportunity to seize control of this series. They won the opening game in Florida, but dropped Game 2. They then had an emotional OT win in Game 3, but once again dropped the ball by losing the next one. The Islanders seem to be lacking a little bit of a killer instinct, although they have been taking their chances on the PP. If they can continue to win the special teams battle, they may just be able to spring the slight upset.

Why bet on the Florida Panthers

If you had asked the Panthers fans at the start of the season about their hopes for the year, the majority would probably have just been pleased to make the playoffs. Winning the Atlantic Division changed everything, and there is now an expectation that this team make a run. They are certainly a team equipped to do so, as they have more than their fair share of veteran guys who know what it takes to win in the playoffs. They will be calling on those guys to set the tone for what has become a best of 3 series. With 2 of those 3 games on home ice, you have to like the Panthers to prevail.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The key to victory for the Panthers in this one is discipline. They are giving the Islanders too many PP opportunities, and it is killing them right now. I like the Panthers at home, and I believe they will take their first lead of the series on Friday night. New York Islanders 2 Florida Panthers 4