The Pittsburgh Penguins (5-7-1) travel to face off against the New York Islanders (4-6-2) on Tuesday, November 5th. This game will be played at UBS Arena in Elmont and televised on ESPN+. The Penguins are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Islanders are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Rangers. Puck drop is set for 7:30 ET.
Penguins vs Islanders
The Pittsburgh Penguins Are Coming Off A Win
With a 3-1 win over the Canadiens, the Penguins improved to 5-7-1 this season. Pittsburgh, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line in the victory. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 4 goals fell short of that mark.
Sidney Crosby scored twice for the Penguins, while Blake Lizotte added an empty-net goal to seal the win. Pittsburgh’s defense held the Canadiens scoreless until the third period.
The New York Islanders Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Islanders fell to 4-6-2 after a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. The Islanders entered the game as underdogs on the puck line and failed to cover. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined 7 goals went over.
New York’s defense struggled throughout, allowing the Rangers to score first at 16:16 in the first period. The Islanders managed to score twice in the second period, but the Rangers responded each time, eventually pulling away with two more goals in the third.
Pittsburgh Offense Breakdown
Sidney Crosby led the way for the Penguins, scoring twice in their 3-1 victory over the Canadiens. He netted his 4th goal of the season in the first period and added his 5th on a power play in the second. Blake Lizotte contributed with his 2nd goal of the season, an empty-netter late in the third period.
The Penguins took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways. They scored once in the first period, added another in the second, and capped off their scoring with Lizotte’s empty-net goal in the third.
Islanders Offense Breakdown
Casey Cizikas netted his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth in the Islanders’ 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Cizikas scored 4:38 into the second period, and Nelson followed with a goal just 8 seconds before the period ended.
The Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the first and third periods. They recorded 23 offensive giveaways and went without a power play goal.
Pittsburgh Team Defense
Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves and posted a 96.2% save percentage, helping the Penguins secure a 3-1 win over the Canadiens. Pittsburgh’s defense added 19 blocks and 5 takeaways. The only goal they allowed came at 5:32 into the 3rd period, making it a 2-1 game.
New York Team Defense
Defensively, the Islanders allowed the first goal just 3:44 into the opening period and gave up two more in the third, including an empty-netter. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with an 89.7% save percentage. The Islanders’ defense also recorded 12 takeaways and 17 hits.
Penguins vs Islanders Trends
- In their last five road games, Pittsburgh has averaged 3 goals per game while allowing 4. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-4 while going 3-2.
- Through their last three home games, New York has an puck line record of just 0-3. However, their overall record was 0-3 while averaging 1 goals per game.
- Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, New York has an puck line mark of 1-2 while going 1-2 straight up.
- Through their previous three contests as the betting favorite, the Penguins have a strong record of 3-0. Their record vs the puck line in these matchups is 1-2.
Penguins vs Islanders Prediction
For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Islanders to secure a victory over the Penguins at home. With the moneyline currently set at -131, I’m locking in my bet on the Islanders straight-up.
When it comes to my suggested pick for the puck line, I’d advise taking the Penguins to cover. Even in the event of a Islanders victory, this matchup is likely to remain closely contested, and the Penguins should cover the puck line.
If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:November 5, 2024 Islanders, Penguins