The New York Islanders (6-4-0) take a trip to the Gateway City to visit the St. Louis Blues (3-5-0) in Thursday night NHL action. Puck drop from Enterprise Center is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+).
The Islanders are hot coming into this game on a 4-game winning streak. Their latest win came in a 3-1 outing vs. the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. In that outing the Islanders led in shots and penalty minutes, but fell behind in hits and faceoffs won.
The Blues are on a terrible cold streak, losing their last 5 in a row. Their most recent loss came in a 5-2 outing vs. the Los Angeles Kings on Halloween night. In that loss the Blues led in faceoffs won, hits, and penalty minutes, but lost the battle for shots and saves.
Islanders at Blues odds
- Moneyline (ML): Islanders -103 (bet $103 to win $100) | Blues -117 (bet $117 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Islanders +1.5 (-260) | Blues -1.5 (+205)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -140 | U: +112)
Islanders at Blues projected goalies
Ilya Sorokin (4-3-0, 2.04 GAA, .935 SV%) vs Jordan Bennington (3-3-0, 3.28 GAA, .882 SV%)
Sorokin has started in 4 of the Islanders’ 6 wins and has allowed 14 total goals on 217 shot attempts with over 412 minutes spent on the ice.
Bennington is the Blues’ premier goalie and has started in 6 of their 8 games and started in all 3 of their wins. He has allowed 18 total goals on 153 shot attempts.
Islanders at Blues picks and predictions
Prediction
Blues 4, Islanders 3
Moneyline
LEAN BLUES -117
This is by far the riskiest bet in this game. With the Blues being on a 5 game losing streak and the Islanders being on a 4-game winning streak there is a good amount of risk attached with this bet. I am picking the Blues mostly because I don’t see this cold streak continuing and I think they get a big win at home to revitalize the locker room.
Puck line/Against the spread
BET ISLANDERS +1.5 (-260)
This is your best bet in this game, but it will cost you. The Islanders are a solid team that is on a very hot streak to this point. Whether the Islanders win or lose they should be able to make this game close and cover the spread against a Blues team that has been struggling over the last week or so.
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 5.5 (-140)
This bet has a fair amount of risk involved. Sorokin does not allow many goals and when you look at his goals allowed per game compared to Bennington’s, the averages would tell you that the under is actually safer. I disagree, however, and believe the Blues will need to be able to score goals if they want to win this game and in their losses this season the Islanders have always allowed 3+ goals to be scored on them.