NY Islanders vs Florida Panthers Playoff Series Odds Guide

Posted by Henry Watkins on Tuesday,April 12, 2016 12:06, EDT in

There are certain teams that we have grown accustomed to seeing in the playoffs every single year, and it’s fair to say that neither the New York Islanders or the Florida Panthers are in that group. These are a pair of teams that have not only made limited appearances in the postseason, but who have also struggled once they got there. It’s easy to forget that the Islanders were once a dynasty team, such is the limited amount of playoff success they have achieved in the postseason since their last Stanley Cup win back in the 1982-83 season. The Panthers have not been around as long as the Islanders, and have only made one trip to the Stanley Cup Final. That came back in 1996, when they were eventually swept in 4 games by the Colorado Avalanche. Recent talk surrounding the Florida Panthers has been more about the franchise moving out of town than anything else, but that chatter may die down if Florida can make a deep postseason run. This is one of the more intriguing of the first round series, as it features a pair of teams hungry for success. This one could be fun to watch, and the action gets started with Game 1 on Thursday, April 14 at 8 PM EST in Florida. You can catch all the action on CNBC, and you can wager on this one at our MyBookie NHL betting lines portal.

Islanders vs Panthers Playoff Series Odds Guide

Why bet on the New York Islanders to win the series

What the Islanders may lack in skill, they make up for in speed and grit. This is a team that is tough to put away, as they have a habit of hitting their opponents on the break just when it looks as though they are going to buckle. The Islanders were made to fight all the way to the finish for their playoff spot, and they managed to pick up 7 points from a possible 10 to book their ticket. While they are going to have to overcome a road disadvantage in the opening round, it’s worth noting that this team finished 4 games over .500 in the regular season, so they do have the ability to sneak one in Florida. New York averaged 2.8 GPG, and gave up 2.6 GPG in the regular season.

Why bet on the Florida Panthers to win the series

The Panthers are one of the success stories of the season, as they essentially came out of nowhere to win the Atlantic Division going away. They have an outstanding mix of hot young prospects and veteran talent, but what they are lacking is playoff experience. That does not seem like something that will bother this group, though, but you do have to wonder how much gas the older guys have left in the tank at this late stage of the season. The Panthers were 25-11-5 at home this season, which suggests that home ice advantage is very much going to work in their favor in this series. Florida are averaging 2.8 GPG, and are giving up 2.4 GPG.

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Expert pick and series prediction

These two teams are pretty evenly matched, but I believe it is Florida that has the better of the goaltending match-up. They also have that all-important home ice advantage, which is what will carry them through.

My Series Prediction: Panthers in 6.