NY Islanders vs Winnipeg Spread Preview

Posted by Henry Watkins on Wednesday,March 2, 2016 1:27, EDT in

Every team comes into the season with a certain level of expectation placed upon their heads. Some teams exceed what is expected of them, while others fall flat on their face. The Winnipeg Jets are a team that many expected to see take a big step forward this year, but things have not exactly played out as they would have liked. They have floundered in the admittedly tough Central Division, and unless they can get on a ridiculously hot streak, they are not likely going to find a place in the postseason. The same cannot be said for the New York Islanders, as they have pretty much lived up to their expectations this season. A playoff spot looks like a certainty for them, but they are still going to have to avoid the many trip-up games, like this one, that lie ahead in the final few weeks of the season. The Islanders should be the favorites here, but you can bet on all the possible outcomes by heading over to our NHL betting odds page.

How to bet the NY Islanders Vs Winnipeg NHL Odds, TV & Game Info:

When: Thursday, March 3, 8 PM EST
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg
TV: MSG+
Radio: WRHU and CFRW
Live Stream: MSGGo
NHL Odds: TBA

Why bet on the New York Islanders

The Islanders (34-20-7) are in the midst of a tough 7-game road trip, but they have made it look pretty easy so far, going 4-1 through the first 5 games. Those wins have helped the Islanders go 7-2-1 in the last 10 games, and have also put them within striking distance of the Rangers in the Metropolitan Division. While the Islanders look pretty comfortable in a playoff spot right now, they know how quickly things can change, which is why they need to stay focused on beating the teams below them in the final weeks of the season. They already have a win over the Winnipeg Jets this season, and they have beaten them in 5 of the last 7 games they have faced them. The Islanders are averaging 2.8 GPG, and are giving up 2.4 GPG.

Why bet on the Winnipeg Jets

As I mentioned at the start of this piece, the Jets (26-32-4) have been something of a disappointment this season. They are a big, fast group of young guys who that many believed would be a dark horse this year. They have looked very good at times, but have struggled with consistency all season long. They haven’t really scored as often as we all thought they would, and while the general consensus was that defense and goaltending might be an issue, no-one really believed things would be as bad in those departments as they have been. The Jets are going out with a bit of a whimper, and are just 3-6-1 in their last 10 games. They can’t even really claim home ice advantage, as they are currently 2 games below .500 in their own building. The Jets are averaging 2.6 GPG, and are giving up 3.0 GPG.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The Islanders are on a solid roll right now, and playing on the road doesn’t seem to be a problem for them. They will want to finish this trip as strong as they started it, and that means picking up a win in Winnipeg.

New York Islanders 4 Winnipeg Jets 2