Islanders vs. Bruins prediction: NHL odds, picks, best bets
The word “rebuild” is a foreign one to Lou Lamoriello.
Instead, the design has been to incessantly patch holes around his lineup in support of Ilya Sorokin’s influence in goal.
Their first 11 games have already been a testament to how reliant the Islanders need to be on Sorokin if they are going to make the playoffs.
The Isles’ visit to Boston on Thursday will feature a heavyweight goaltending showcase.
New York is enduring 35.8 shots, which is the third-most in the league, all while Isles goaltending maintains a sixth-ranked goals against average (2.82) to doggy paddle amid the Metropolitan Division picture.
Sorokin, who has missed the last two games with what has been described as soreness, has managed to help the Isles conjure three points from two different starts in which he’s faced 47 shots.
Semyon Varlamov has been a handy complement in his four games, too.
He’s secured a pair of shutouts while allowing 1.77 goals and denying 95 percent of his shots against.
The only netminder who’s been better is Jeremy Swayman, who leads the NHL in both save percentage (.952) and goals against average (1.49); he has saved a net 8.8 goals above expected — the second-most among all goalies.
The Islanders have been able to generate prime scoring opportunities at an above-average rate, but Boston plays an airtight game down the middle of the ice.
The Bruins limit opposing shooters to less than two high-danger chances per game.
Boston is a product of Jim Montgomery’s aggressive, north-south game.
It adapted the system seamlessly last year, but there is no one line that pumps out a large slice of production.
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Aside from David Pastrnak’s team-leading 17 points, the Bruins get contributions at a relatively balanced rate.
The Islanders aren’t quite as expeditious or efficient, but their roster reflects a lot of homogenous talent.
It’s a team that has equaled the sum of its parts; there hasn’t been a “Pastrnak” on the roster to emerge yet, as the Islanders are one of the worst shooting teams around.
I don’t expect them to improve there on Thursday as these two should spend most of the regulation play defending one another.
