The New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets meet Sunday in NHL action at the Nationwide Arena. Here’s a Blue Jackets vs Islanders Prediction. This article will include a Blue Jackets vs Islanders Pick.
New York Islanders Betting Preview
The New York Islanders beat the Devils and Rangers, and they play the Blackhawks next. The Islanders have won 8 of their last 12 games.
The New York Islanders are averaging 2.79 goals per game and are scoring 15.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Bo Horvat leads New York with 19 goals, Mathew Barzal has 19 assists and Matthew Schaefer has 102 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Islanders are allowing 2.63 goals per game and are killing 82.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. David Rittich has allowed 32 goals on 396 shots faced, and Ilya Sorokin has given up 61 goals on 676 shots.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Ducks, beat the Kings, and play the Senators next. The Blue Jackets have lost 7 of their last 9 games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.89 goals per game and are scoring 20.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Zach Werenski leads Columbus with 14 goals, Charlie Coyle has 17 assists and Adam Fantilli has 95 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.44 goals per game and are killing 74.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jet Greaves has allowed 62 goals on 660 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 54 goals on 440 shots.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The home team has won eight of the Islanders’ last nine games.
- The Islanders have lost each of their last three road games.
- The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in four of their last five games against the Islanders.
- The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last three games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Blue Jackets.
- The Islanders have lost the third period in 14 of their last 16 games as road underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents when leading after the second period.
Why the New York Islanders will win
- The Islanders have won each of their last six night games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Blue Jackets have lost each of their last four home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Islanders have covered the puck line in each of their last 13 games as underdogs following a home win.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight games as favorites.
- The Blue Jackets have lost the third period in each of their last seven games against Eastern Conference opponents when leading after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Islanders’ last 11 night games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Blue Jackets’ last five games as home favorites following a road win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last 12 games as favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Islanders’ last five road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts
- Zach Werenski has scored at least one goal in four of the Blue Jackets’ last five games as home favorites.
- Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in 24 of the Blue Jackets’ last 26 games as favorites.
- Kirill Marchenko ranks 1st in the league for shootout goals (5) this season.
New York Islanders Player Prop Facts
- Bo Horvat has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances with the Islanders as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Kyle Palmieri has recorded an assist in each of his last four appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Matthew Schaefer has scored two goals against the Blue Jackets this season – most against any opponent.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 30th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (74.26%).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 29th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.44).
- The New York Islanders rank 6th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.63).
- The New York Islanders rank 27th in the league in power play percentage this season (15.70%).
Blue Jackets vs Islanders Prediction
The Islanders are one of those teams that lets me down once I start to believe, so I’m not thrilled to back them on the road. However, there’s little doubt that the Islanders have been the better team this season. The Blue Jackets are a subpar team at best that’s been getting dragged defensively over the last two weeks. The Blue Jackets aren’t good? Make this line make sense? Wrong team favored. I’ll gladly take the Islanders and the plus money, even though they’ve let me down countless times over the years.