Penguins vs Islanders Pick – NHL Predictions & Odds 3/9/23

The New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins meet Thursday in NHL action at the PPG Paints Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The New York Islanders are averaging 2.9 goals per game and are scoring on 17.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Brock Nelson leads New York with 27 goals, Mathew Barzal has 37 assists and Anders Lee has 178 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Islanders are allowing 2.6 goals per game and are killing 82.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ilya Sorokin has given up 108 goals on 1,466 shots faced, and Semyon Varlamov has allowed 53 goals on 617 shots.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.3 goals per game and are scoring on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 28 goals, Evgeni Malkin has 43 assists, and Rickard Rakell has 190 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 3.2 goals per game and are killing 79.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Tristan Jarry has allowed 90 goals on 1,041 shots faced, and Casey DeSmith has given up 91 goals on 965 shots.

The Islanders are 4-11 in their last 15 road games and 5-2 in their last 7 overall. The Penguins are 1-4 in their last 5 Thursday games and 5-1 in their last 6 overall. The under is 19-7-1 in Islanders last 27 overall. The over is 4-0-1 in Penguins last 5 home games. The Islanders are 16-37 in the last 53 meetings in Pittsburgh and 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. The home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

The New York Islanders have had road trouble all year, and Pittsburgh usually isn’t a spot where things turn around. The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off a strong week or so and they look like an experienced team that knows when to turn things on. The Penguins could get hot down this home stretch. The price is reasonable. Give me the Penguins on their home ice.