Islanders vs. Rangers Preview
(The Spread) – The New York Islanders have not fared well against their in-state rivals but could things change on Tuesday night?
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Rangers –169 money line favorites over the Islanders, while the over/under total is currently set for 5.5 goals.
The Islanders enter tonight’s game with a 27-32-6-5 record and are 11-17-5-1 on the road this year. The over is 38-28 in all New York games this season, but just 16-16 when the Islanders play on the road according to latest NHL trends.
The Rangers head into Tuesday with a 36-30-2-2 record but they’re just 15-16-1-2 at home this season. The under is 40-26 in their 66 games this season but 16-16 when they play at Madison Square Garden.
NHL Free Pick: They don’t call it gambling for nothing. The Islanders have surrendered 21 goals in their four losses to the Rangers this season and they’re just 1-5 in the last six meetings with their instate rivals. But I’m going to take a shot with them tonight. Rick DiPietro allowed 12 goals in the first two meetings between the Islanders and Rangers, but he remains out with facial fractures sustained in a fight with the Penguins’ Brent Johnson on February 2. Dwayne Rolson allowed nine goals to the Rangers, but he too is gone (traded to the Lightning). That means Al Montoya will be the third goalie the Islanders will use against the Rangers and I think he’ll prove victorious. It’s difficult to beat a rival more than a handful of times per season, nevertheless five times in one year. With a some determination and a little luck, I like the Islanders to pull off the upset.
TUESDAY NHL FREE PICK: NEW YORK ISLANDERS +156
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