New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils odds, picks and predictions
The New York Islanders (8-6-6) and New Jersey Devils (9-9-1) meet Tuesday. Puck drop from the Prudential Center is slated for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Islanders vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
New York dropped a 1-0 shootout contest against the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday. The goose egg came after the Islanders had gone 3-0 with 13 goals scored over their previous 3 games. Tuesday’s game is the front end of a 3-game road trip for the Isles.
The Devils also last played Saturday. They routed the Buffalo Sabres 7-2 in halting a 3-game skid. That game was in Newark and marked New Jersey’s 1st win on home ice since Oct. 29.
New York and New Jersey have met once this season — the Devils downed the Isles 5-4 in overtime Oct. 20.
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Islanders at Devils odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:05 a.m. ET.
Islanders at Devils projected goalies
Ilya Sorokin (5-3-5, 2.95 GAA, .917 SV%) vs. Vitek Vanecek (8-5-0, 3.32 GAA, .884 SV%)
Sorokin stopped 40-of-40 pucks in his last start Saturday vs. Philadelphia. He’s coming off back-to-back starts against the Flyers and logged 74 saves on 76 shots (.974 SV%) over the 2 games.
Vanecek faced just 12 shots in a 7-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres Saturday. He owns a shaky .857 SV% over his last 6 games.
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Islanders at Devils picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 4, Islanders 3
Sorokin is a wildcard here, but over the last 2 seasons, the Devils are 13-5-3 (.690) when playing on 2 days’ rest.
New Jersey has maintained excellent puck-possession numbers of late.
BETTHE DEVILS (-160).
Respecting Sorokin here. PASS.
The Over is 4-0 in New York’s last 4 road games. The Over is 10-2 in the Devils’ last 12 home games. The Isles and Devils cranked out 9 goals in their last meeting, and the Over is 3-1-1 across their last 5.
Sorokin has a hot hand, but the Islanders have yielded 35.7 shots per game since Nov. 4. The New York netminder is also more gettable on the road, and a couple blue-liners in front of him are on the shelf (D Sebastian Aho, D Adam Pelech).
The Devils are healthier than they’ve been in a while, and they’ve fired 76 shots on goal in their last 2 games. Vanecek has not been sharp of late, and the New Jersey PK owns a mere 68.4% mark over the team’s last 6 games.
