Great matchup tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning (27-18-5) will take on the New York Islanders (21-17-12) at UBS Arena. These 2 teams developed a rivalry after they met in the Conference Finals in back-to-back years.
This year the Lightning come in on a 3-game winning streak and are 8-2 in their last 10 game. Tampa is also 3rd in the Atlantic Division and will be looking to return back to the playoffs once again.
Tampa has been an offensive powerhouse for the past few years now. The Lightning have continued that this year, averaging 3.48 goals per game. They lead the league in power play percentage, converting 29.9% of the time.
Led by captain Steven Stamkos and sniper Nikita Kucherov, Tampa continues to be a contender. Kucherov is having an MVP season, tied for most points with Nathan Mackinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. Brayden Point is still silently killing it.
On defense, the Lightning have got the job done. Led by Victor Hedman, they rank 12th for shots on goal allowed and 13th in penalty kill where they kill 81.1% of the penalties they face.
Andrei Vasilevsky is the starting goalie again this year for the Lightning but has battled injuries. He is not expected to start though, as backup Jonas Johansson will get the nod.
Johansson has a 10-6-5 record with a 3.34 GAA and .894 shooting percentage. His numbers aren’t the best, so the Islanders will try and exploit that GAA.
Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield tries to get the puck away from Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.
The Islanders are coming off a 3-2 win against the Maple Leafs on Monday night. In their last 10 games, they’re 3-5-2, but that is mainly before the break. They looked like they had a little spark Monday night.
New York is sitting 4th in the Metro Division and 4 points out of a Wild Card spot. They have moved up and down the standings this year, playing very streaky.
Struggling on offense and defense, the Islanders record is almost surprising. Finishing games has been their problem this season and their 12 OTL’s show just that.
Mat Barzal was waiting for the team to come to Toronto as he was already there to be a part of the All-Star weekend. He had a nice goal vs Toronto and is really showing the player he can be this year.
Goalie Ilya Sorokin has struggled at times this year. He had some games get away from him due to lack of defensive help, but he has also let up some soft goals to blow games.
Sorokin’s 15-12-9 record shows his struggle for a goalie who was a Vezina nominee last year. He also has a 3.13 GAA and a .910 save percentage.
The Islanders are going to need Sorokin on the top of his game vs this Lightning team who has faced him plenty. Let’s check out the odds and get into some picks.
Betting Odds
Puck Line
- Tampa Bay Lightning +1.5 (-250)
- New York Islanders -1.5 (+202)
Moneyline
- Tampa Bay Lightning -106
- New York Islanders -113
Totals
- Over 6.5 (+100)
- Under 6.5 (-122)
Odds courtesy of MyBookie
Game Information
- Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
- Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
- Puck Drop: 8pm EST
- TV: ESPN
Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Islanders Prediction and Picks
Cal Clutterbuck sneaks the puck past the goal line in traffic.
Prediction and Pick: New York Islanders Moneyline (-113) Get 50% up to $750 Deposit on BETUS for this pick
I know it seems like a homer pick, and I guess it kind of is, but I also know these 2 teams. I have watched them play each other plenty and they know each other well.
The sportsbooks are giving the Islanders the edge because of home ice. New York is much better at home than on the road with a 12-6-7 record at home. They are 9-11-5 on the road, so much better.
Tampa has a similar situation where they are much better at home (17-5-3) than they are on the road (10-14-2).
The Islanders are going to want to get ahead early and hold on to that lead. This game could very well go back and forth, especially with the 2 goalies in net. This will be the 1st time these 2 meet this season and the Islander won the last game but lost the previous 5.
I’m going with my gut here and riding with the boys to squeak out a win in similar fashion as they did vs the Leafs. This team is gritty and knows how to find ways to win. This is going to be one of those games for another home victory.
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