The winner of the Eastern Conference in the NHL seems to be a foregone conclusion, as the Washington Capitals have opened up a gap that surely now cannot be bridged. That is not to say that there aren’t still some interesting battles taking place in the East, and one of those can be found at the top of the Atlantic Division, where the Boston Bruins are currently holding a very slender lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers. The race for second place in the Metropolitan Division is also heating up, as the two New York teams battle it out for supremacy, as well as some bragging rights. It will be the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders who hook up this Saturday afternoon, with both teams heading into the game a lot at stake. This is definitely a game worth wagering on, so be sure to keep up to date with the NHL online betting odds.
New York Islanders vs Boston Bruins Pro Hockey Lines Guide
When: Saturday, March 12 at 1 PM EST
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV: MSG+ and NESN
Radio: WRHU and WBZ-FM
Live Stream: NHL Stream
NHL Odds: TBA
Why bet on the New York Islanders
The Islanders (37-20-8) are coming off a rather surprising 4-3 OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their last outing, but that should not detract from the fact that they are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. They are making a move in the Metropolitan Division, and are now just 2 points back of the Rangers in second place. The Islanders have been very good on the road this season, going 17-12-4, but they have lost both meetings with the Bruins this season. They may be in position to break that trend, though, as they are a very solid 6-1-1in their last 8 games on the road. The Islanders are averaging 2.8 GPG, and are giving up 2.4 GPG.
Why bet on the Boston Bruins
The Bruins (38-23-8) have made it all the way to the top of the Atlantic Division, but they are putting in more work than most in order to succeed. They have seen their last 4 games head to OT, going 2-0-2 in the process. That has taken Boston to 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, leading them to a very slender 1-point lead in the division. The Islanders are a team that Boston have been able to handle over the last couple of season, and they have now won 4 straight against them, including their first 2 meetings this season. Oddly enough, the Bruins have struggled at home this season, and are a game below .500 at the Garden heading into this one. Boston are averaging 3.0 GPG, and are giving up 2.7 GPG.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
All good things must come to an end, and I believe that the Bruins recent dominance over the Islanders will end on Saturday afternoon. I also like this one to go OVER, as both of these teams know how to put the puck in the net.
