Though we are just one month into the NHL season, it looks unlikely that a pair of Metropolitan Division rivals in the Islanders and Penguins will be able to secure anything but a wild-card berth.
The divisional seeds appear destined to be scooped up by some combination of the Rangers, Hurricanes, Devils and Capitals based on their strong starts.
These Islanders and Penguins enter Tuesday night’s matchup at UBS Arena with nearly identical win percentages but have arrived at those records in entirely different fashions.
Islanders vs. Penguins odds
| Team | Moneyline | Puck line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islanders | -132 | -1.5 (+184) | o6.5 (+112) |
| Penguins | +110 | +1.5 (-230) | u6.5 (-138) |
The Penguins feature plenty of offensive firepower but have been one of the league’s worst defensive sides, allowing 3.77 goals per game this season and 3.68 expected goals per 60 minutes.
The Islanders are at the other end of the spectrum. They have been a solid defensive side, but they have scored only 2.25 goals per game and have already been shut out on four occasions.
As if scoring hadn’t been enough of a challenge for coach Patrick Roy’s squad, it is now battling through the loss of top forward Mathew Barzal and defender Adam Pelech.
Most of the Penguins’ most concerning defensive performances have come against some of the league’s best offenses.
Their last two games have come against two of the league’s worst offenses — the Canadiens and Ducks — and they have cleaned things up, allowing only three goals.
They own a 63.86% expected goal share in those two games and allowed just 24.34 shots against per 60.
Betting on the NHL?
A matchup against a depleted Islanders side already struggling to score should help the Penguins hide their flaws again
At -105 or better, the Penguins hold value in this matchup.
THE PLAY: Penguins moneyline (+110, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Nicholas Martin handicaps the NHL, MLB and NFL for the New York Post. He strives to include relevant game notes in articles to help bettors come to their own conclusions, but is also up 180 units himself on verified picks in a sports betting app. You can find Nick on X @nickm_hockey.
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