Lightning vs Islanders Prediction NHL Picks 2/8/24
The Tampa Bay Lightning will play the New York Islanders on Thursday night at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. Tampa Bay has won three of their last four games, while New York has lost three of their last four. Let’s take a look at the betting matchup and the Lightning vs Islanders prediction.
Lightning Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 27-19-5 this year after they lost to the Rangers by a score of 3-1 in their last game. Tampa Bay cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third period, but they allowed an empty net goal with a minute left for the loss. The Lightning were out shot by a total of 24-19 and went 0-1 on the power play in the game. Tampa Bay had won their previous three games against New Jersey, Arizona, and Philadelphia. The Lightning are scoring 3.48 goals per game and they are allowing 3.28 goals against per game, while going 29.9% on the power play and 81.1% on the penalty kill. Nikita Kucherov has led Tampa Bay with 32 goals, 53 assists, and 210 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Tampa Bay is Jonas Johansson, who is 10-6-5 this year with a 3.34 goals against average and a .894 save percentage.
Islanders Preview
The New York Islanders are 21-17-12 this season after they defeated Toronto by a score of 3-2 in their last game. New York blew leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but they were able to get the game winning goal with about two minutes left in the game. The Islanders were out shot by a total of 36-29 and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. New York had lost their previous three games against Florida, Montreal, and Vegas. The Islanders are scoring 2.90 goals per game and they are allowing 3.30 goals against per game, while going 22.6% on the power play and 72.1% on the penalty kill. Mathew Barzal has led New York with 14 goals, 38 assists, and 149 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for New York is Ilya Sorokin, who is 15-12-9 this season with a 3.14 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
New York Islanders Player Prop Facts
- Bo Horvat has scored a goal in each of the Islanders' last four games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Noah Dobson has recorded at least one point in each of the Islanders' last five games as favorites.
- Mathew Barzal has recorded at least one assist in each of the Islanders' last six home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Noah Dobson ranks T1st in the Metropolitan Division for Plus/Minus (+21) this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Nikita Kucherov has scored a goal in each of the Lightning's last three games as underdogs against the Islanders.
- Brandon Hagel has recorded at least one point in seven of the Lightning's last eight games.
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning's last eight night games.
- Nikita Kucherov ranks 1st in the league for Points (86) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The New York Islanders rank 32nd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (72.08%).
- The New York Islanders rank T1st in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (2).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 1st in the league in power play percentage this season (29.75%).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank T1st in the league for power play goals this season (47).
Lightning vs Islanders Betting Prediction
New York really struggled in the first half of the season, but they opened the second half with an impressive road win against Toronto. The Islanders are 12-6-7 at home, but they are only scoring 2.90 goals per game this year. Tampa Bay will be on the second game of a back to back, as they played against the Rangers on Wednesday, and they have really struggled on the road. The Lightning are a very good offensive team, but they just haven’t been able to consistently put it together on the road. The Islanders goal scoring issues are definitely a worry and I trust the Lightning way more than I trust New York. Take Tampa Bay here.
