New York Islanders (17-12) vs. Boston Bruins (22-4-1)
December 13, 2022 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Bruins -215 / New York Islanders +176; Over/Under: +6.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The New York Islanders and Boston Bruins meet Tuesday in NHL action at the TD Garden. The New York Islanders have split their last 8 games. The Boston Bruins have won 6 of their last 9 games.
The New York Islanders are averaging 3.2 goals per game and are scoring on 23 percent of their power play opportunities. Brock Nelson leads New York with 14 goals, Mathew Barzal has 27 assists and Noah Dobson has 87 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Islanders are allowing 2.8 goals per game and are killing 81.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ilya Sorokin has given up 45 goals on 601 shots faced, and Semyon Varlamov has allowed 26 goals on 311 shots.
The Boston Bruins are averaging 3.9 goals per game and are scoring on 28.7 percent of their power play opportunities. David Pastrnak leads Boston with 19 goals, Hampus Lindholm has 16 assists and Patrice Bergeron has 88 shots on goal. Defensively, the Boston Bruins are allowing 2.2 goals per game and are killing 85.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Linus Ullmark has given up 32 goals on 540 shots faced, and Jeremy Swagman has allowed 23 goals on 204 shots.
The Islanders are 7-3 in their last 10 games playing on 2 days rest and 7-2 in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference. The Bruins are 54-19 in their last 73 home games and 49-19 in their last 68 overall. The under is 7-3 in Islanders last 10 overall. The over is 5-1-1 in Bruins last 7 games following a win. The Islanders are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings in Boston and 5-1 in the last 6 meetings. The home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
The Boston Bruins continue to make their case as the best team in the league, and you shouldn’t make a habit of stepping in front of them. The Bruins deserve to be favored on their home ice. However, as I’ve said many times over the years, the New York Islanders are a team I enjoy backing as underdogs because of their defense and how well coached they are. The Islanders play good defense, don’t beat themselves, and they give you a chance to cash in these spots. Give me the big plus money.
