Islanders vs Capitals Pick – NHL Predictions & Odds 3/11/23

The Washington Capitals and New York Islanders meet Saturday in the NHL action at the UBS Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The Washington Capitals are averaging 3.1 goals per game and are scoring on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Alex Ovechkin leads Washington with 36 goals, Evgeny Kuznetsov has 39 assists and Conor Sheary has 129 shots on goal. Defensively, the Washington Capitals are allowing 3 goals per game and are killing 82.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Darcy Kuemper has given up 117 goals on 1,324 shots faced, and Charlie Lindgren has allowed 64 goals on 675 shots.

The New York Islanders are averaging 2.9 goals per game and are scoring on 17 percent of their power play opportunities. Brock Nelson leads New York with 28 goals, Mathew Barzal has 37 assists and Anders Lee has 181 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Islanders are allowing 2.6 goals per game and are killing 82.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ilya Sorokin has given up 111 goals on 1,482 shots faced, and Semyon Varlamov has allowed 53 goals on 617 shots.

The Capitals are 1-5 in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest and 3-9 in their last 12 overall. The Islanders are 4-1 in their last 5 home games and 4-1 in their last 5 overall. The under is 9-4 in Capitals last 13 overall. The under is 6-1-1 in Islanders last 8 overall. The Capitals are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in New York and 6-2 in the last 8 meetings. The underdog is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.

The Washington Capitals still have issues stringing wins together, and those things don’t fix themselves on the road. The New York Islanders have turned their season around over the last week or so, and their defense can still be trusted. This feels like two teams heading in different directions down the home stretch. Give me the Islanders.