No one knows what version of the New York Islanders will emerge from game to game this season.
On some nights, the Isles can look like a team that can play against any opponent in the NHL, but too often this season they’ve been easily marked, given poor performances, lack of discipline, and mental I lost a lot of points because of a stupid mistake. .
Despite the roller coaster nature of this campaign, the Islanders still have a chance to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Isles are four points behind the Capitals and four points behind the Flyers, but they have two games left against the latter.
A win at Tampa Bay on Saturday night would be a huge step forward for the Islanders, setting up a close game against Philadelphia on Monday night.
As of this writing, the Lightning are -155 favorites.
Islanders vs Lightning Prediction
((7:00 p.m. ET)
The Lightning deserve a lot of credit for taking control of the Eastern Conference’s first wild card. The Bolts were without Andrei Vasilevskiy for the first quarter of the season and had to completely re-strengthen the bottom of the roster due to salary cap constraints.
Many pundits predicted the Lightning would miss the playoffs due to these factors, but Tampa is a stout group and now they are certain to join the dance.
Much of the credit for Tampa’s resilient season goes to Nikita Kucherov, who had an MVP-caliber performance, but the Bolts have gotten a lot of production from their entire lineup as of late, and crucially, Vassi. Levski is doing well with goals.
A few trade deadline acquisitions, Anthony Duclair and Matt Dumba, received less attention than other moves made around the league, but both players have done a great job since joining the Bolts. And, most importantly, their arrival improves Tampa’s depth.
The Lightning are still not a dominant team at 5-on-5, but they have the best power play in the league, and with Kucherov, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel, and Victor Hedman all playing at all, it’s always a challenge. This is a threat that can be overcome. -Star level.
Islanders don’t have that luxury. With special teams struggles and a lack of all-world playmakers, the Islanders need every player pulling the rope in the same direction and can’t afford to make mistakes.
The Isles were able to accomplish that with a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Thursday, but will need another performance in Tampa on Saturday.
The Islanders will try to keep things as orderly as possible against the Lightning, knowing they have few chances in a back-and-forth game full of scoring chances and power plays.
Tampa is going to do everything they can to script this game, but it could be a while before this game is actually released.
The Islanders have not allowed a first-period goal in 13 of their last 16 games, and four of their last nine first-period games have ended 0-0.
Do you want to bet on the NHL?
If I had to pick a team, I’d lean toward the Isles in the cell-high spot in Tampa, but ending the first period 0-0 with a bunch is my favorite on this board. It’s a play.
Pick: 1P within 0.5 goals (+380, DraftKings)
