New York At Pittsburgh NHL Spread, Free Pick & TV Info

Posted by Henry Watkins on Thursday,March 23, 2017 2:40, EDT in

NHL News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

As the NHL regular season moves into the final few weeks, there are some fabulous races going on all over the place. While much of the focus at this time of the year is on the playoff races in each conference, it’s hard to argue against the fact that the most exciting battle is taking place in the Metropolitan Division. You have three teams in there, including the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins, that have all crossed the 100-point barrier, and which are separated by 2 points. The team that wins this division is likely going to be the one that wins the President’s Trophy, which is always a nice little feather in the cap. It was the Washington Capitals, the current leaders in the division, who had the best record in the league last season, so you can bet that one of the other two will want to dethrone them and have home ice advantage through the playoffs. The Penguins will continue the chase on Friday night when they welcome in the New York Islanders. Find the latest NHL betting spreads here.

A Closer Look At The Islanders At Penguins NHL Spread, Free Pick & TV Info

When: Friday, March 24 at 7 PM EST
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
TV: TVA
Live Stream: NHL.TV
NHL Odds: TBA

Why bet on the New York Islanders

The New York Islanders (34-26-12) have 10 games remaining on their schedule, and they need some wins in there if they are to get above the Wild Card line in the Eastern Conference. Right now, they are sitting just 2 points back of the Boston Bruins for that coveted final spot, plus they have a game in hand to work with. Given that the New York Rangers are well out of sight in the other Wild Card position, the teams still in the hunt are essentially fighting for a single spot. The Islanders are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and have dropped 2 in a row. They have not had much success versus the Penguins, losing 4 of the last 5, but they did manage to get the win the last time they met.

Why bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins

If I were to be asked who I thought would win the Metropolitan Division, my money would be on the Pittsburgh Penguins (46-17-9). They are about as hot as it gets right now, winning 3 straight, and going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. This is a team built to score goals, and they have the goals per game average and power play efficiency to prove that. Winning the division would be huge for this team, as it would mean home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Given that the Penguins have gone 29-4-3 at home this season, it would be hard to imagine them giving up too many games during the postseason.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Yes, the Islanders came away with the win in their last tilt versus the Penguins, but that was the first win in 5. I just don’t see the Stanley Cup Champs letting this one slip away.