A showdown in the Metropolitan Division showcases the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Islanders. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here on Last Word on Hockey! Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, predictions, and key insights into upcoming games. In this match-up, Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins into a divisional clash against Anders Lee and the Islanders, as both teams aim to gain valuable points in the playoff race. Stay tuned for more NHL predictions covering all the action on this busy hockey Saturday!
NHL Predictions
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders
Head-to-Head: Penguins 0-1 Islanders
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST); 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
TV: ESPN+
The NHL season is in full swing, and both teams in this matchup are looking to establish momentum. The Penguins are 16-15-5, trending upwards in their last few months of play. Meanwhile, the Islanders have had a the opposite trajectory. With a 13-15-7 record, the Islanders have been trending downward even with the efforts of superstar netminder Ilya Sorokin.
The Penguins’ Story
The Penguins have been battling hard to find themselves back in the playoff race. Leading the charge as always is captain Sidney Crosby. The captain has 39 points in 36 games, heading for another consecutive point-per-game season. Along with him, Rickard Rakell has been a boon for the Penguins since regaining his form this season. He’s scored 16 goals and 28 points on the season. There is support from the backend as well, with Erik Karlsson having a strong stretch of play. Alongside his five points in last five games, Karlsson has 24 points through 36 games on the season.
In net, Tristan Jarry has been redeeming his play with his performance over the last month. He’s battled to a winning record of 8-5-2 during a season in which he spent time down in the minors. As fantastic as he has been, the Penguins are playing the Islanders in a back-to-back. As such, backup Alex Nedeljkovic is likely to factor into this game or the one on Sunday. He’ll be looking to improve his 5-5-3 record after his own early season struggles.
The Islanders Story
New York enters this matchup seeking to redeem themselves after a 7-1 loss drubbing by the Buffalo Sabres earlier in the week. Captain Anders Lee leads the team with 27 points in 35 games. Behind him, potential trade asset Kyle Palmieri has 25 points in 35 games. A notable problem with the Islanders offence however has been the absence in production and availability of franchise star Mathew Barzal. He’s only factored into 14 games on the season, scoring six points through these outings. For a team not built for high-octane offence, the absence of Barzal’s production along with the slump of Bo Horvat has been lethal.
Speaking of disappointing performances, goaltender Ilya Sorokin has struggled this season as well. With a 10-11-4 record, Sorokin’s relatively abysmal .898 save percentage has dropped the floor underneath the Islanders. Usually, the team’s comparably middling offence can usually fall back on the performance of Sorokin. However, this season has seen an absence of this crucial element in the team’s success. Veteran goaltender Semyon Varlamov will likely factor into this weekend’s games as well. His performance has been disappointing as well, an .898 save percentage backed up by a 3-4-3 record.
Prediction
With these teams trending in opposite directions, momentum may play a big factor in this one. The Islanders are on a downward spiral. Meanwhile, the Penguins are looking to solidify their lead in the points race againt the Rangers and the other Eastern Conference teams.
Prediction: Penguins win 5-4.
Prop Bets for the Night
With a +196, Fanduel’s over-7 total goals prop bet is a good one to make.
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Main Photo: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 28 Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Islanders appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.