The New York Islanders have been punching above their weight class as of late, clawing their way back into a playoff spot after polishing off an all-hands-on deck victory over the Blue Jackets on Thursday.
But I’m still not sold even after their three straight wins heading into Saturday night‘s match with the Nashville Predators, another team tailgating the playoff brink.
The Predators’ offense has been moody over the last month with Nashville ending up on both sides of some wonky results.
But Filip Forsberg has been the point-producing shepherd, potting three in Thursday’s win over the Blues for 11 in his last nine games.
When Forsberg scores, the Predators are 36-12-3 as the secondary scoring usually follows suit.
Nashville generates the eighth highest expected goals rate and ranks within the top 10 of high danger scoring chances.
The Islanders’ stars haven’t been as reliable hence its sub-three goals per game rate.
The puck luck hasn’t been there with a deficient 9.8 shooting percentage despite the Isles’ solid high danger scoring rate.
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The Islanders have been hindered by the most incompetent penalty kill in hockey, which spells trouble against a Predators power play that’s been trending upward.
The Preds are 22-12-3 road record.
Two heavyweight goaltenders contending against one another on playoff-chasing teams have this matchup set as a pick’em, so I’m backing the side that’s been considerably more profitable.
The play: Predators moneyline.