Islanders vs. Canucks Odds
| Islanders Odds | +126 |
| Canucks Odds | -152 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +110 / -134 |
The second game of Wednesday night's TNT doubleheader features the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks.
These two clubs have gone back and forth over the past few seasons, splitting the past 10 meetings.
Will Vancouver defend its home ice, or can New York pull off the upset?
Let's preview the NHL odds, as well as my betting pick and prediction for Islanders vs. Canucks betting pick.
New York Islanders
With the Islanders entering this contest amid a five-game losing skid, now is the time to buy low on New York. First, goaltender Ilya Sorokin is slated to get the nod between the pipes and is always a great candidate to back at plus money.
Continuing his play as one of the world's top 3 goaltenders, Sorokin boasts a .907 SV% and 3.21 GAA through nine starts this year.
Among starting netminders, Sorokin also ranks seventh in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.
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Furthermore, Sorokin may finally get some goal support since the Islanders are primed for positive regression offensively. Despite ranking 30th in goals scored per game, New York ranks fifth in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5.
I get the frustration from Islanders fans. The forward group is extremely thin on paper, and the finishing has been practically nonexistent.
However, they are still generating good looks, and the puck will eventually start to find the back of the net.
Vancouver Canucks
Perhaps New York can finally start to finish against the Canucks, a team that has benefitted from unsustainable goaltending thus far.
Thatcher Demko is projected to get the start, and he has been brilliant this year.
Through 10 starts, Demko is 7-3 with a .935 SV% and 1.96 GAA. I truly believe Demko's ceiling is that of a Top 10 goaltender when healthy, but a .935 SV% is just simply not sustainable for a guy with a career .912 SV%.
He's going to come back down to earth a little bit, especially considering Vancouver's blue line. At 5-on-5, the Canucks rank 19th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
The offense is also due for some regression, ranking first in the league in goals scored per game and third in power play percentage at a whopping 31.6%.
However, they also rank 27th in xGF/60 at 5-on-5, which places them between the likes of the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks.
Islanders vs. Canucks
Betting Pick & Prediction
This game is just one of those spots where we are simultaneously selling high and buying low.
The Canucks are due for regression both offensively and in net while the Islanders are playing better than their five-game losing skid indicates.
And, at the end of the day, even if none of this expected regression/positive regression occurs, Sorokin can keep New York alive in any matchup.
At +126, let's take a shot on the Islanders to have a "get right" game on national TV.
Pick: Islanders (+135 at Caesars) | Play to +110
