Feb 9th NHL Hockey Odds: Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Frank Martin
The New York Islanders have seen plenty of extra hockey lately. They'll try to get things wrapped up in 60 tidy minutes Thursday as they entertain the Montreal Canadiens in an Eastern Conference matchup.
Five of New York's last seven games have gone to extra time, including the last three in a row. The last one was a doozy, as the Islanders escaped with a 1-0 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers after the teams played 65 minutes of scoreless hockey.
Montreal is coming off its own shootout victory, an eight-round, 3-2 classic over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
-
Montreal Canadiens
@ New York Islanders
When:
7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 9, 2012
Where:
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
TV:
7 p.m. ET, RDS, MSG Plus 2
The Islanders have opened as 125-moneyline favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NHL Hockey Odds.
Montreal Canadiens (21-24-9): With its playoff hopes flickering, Montreal is doing whatever it can to remain alive in the postseason picture. Consecutive victories over Winnipeg and Pittsburgh barely made a dent in the standings, as Montreal comes into Thursday's contest 10 points back of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Upcoming games against divisional rivals Toronto (Saturday), Boston (Wednesday) and Buffalo (Feb. 17) could make or break the Canadiens' playoff chances.
New York Islanders (22-22-8): New York is also a longshot to reach the Stanley Cup tournament, though its recent play is cause for optimism. The Islanders have gone 6-1-2 over their last nine games, with victories over Philadelphia (twice) and Ottawa among the conquests. Tuesday's shootout win over the Flyers was a game the Isles had no business winning after they were outshot by a ridiculous 45-17 margin in regulation and overtime.
1.
The Canadiens and Islanders have split
two previous meetings this season, with the home team prevailing both times.
2. Islanders leading scorer John Tavares erupted for 22 points in 13
January games but has been held off the scoresheet in his first three February
contests.
3. Montreal has the second-worst winning percentage in the NHL when scoring
first, going just 13-8-6 (.464). The Islanders are 16-3-5 (.667) when they
strike first.
NHL PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Canadiens 2
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Tags
john tavares - montreal canadiens - nassau veterans memorial coliseum - new york islanders - stanley cup
