The Boston Bruins will be trying to stave off elimination when they take on the New York Islanders on Wednesday. New York defeated Boston in Game 5, 5-4, to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Here you can find the best picks, news, and stats for this East Division battle at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Boston is the favorite at -132. This according to PointsBet Sportsbook, which puts New York at +110 as the underdog.
The Bruins will be without Steven Kampfer, Ondrej Kase, Kevan Miller, and John Moore. Listed as questionable for Boston are goaltender Tuukka Rask, Curtis Lazar, and Brandon Carlo. The Islanders will be without Johnny Boychuk, Michael Dal Colle, Anders Lee, and Oliver Wahlstrom.
Bruins Comeback Falls Short
Boston found themselves trailing 4-1 with 18 minutes left in the contest, but got goals from David Pastrnak and David Krejci to pull within a goal, but could not get the equalizer as they fell to New York, 4-3. Rask started for Boston but left after giving up four goals on 16 shots. Pastrnak finished with two goals and an assist.
Boston is averaging 3.10 goals per game and is connecting on 8.4% of their shots. They are third on the power-play in the postseason at 33.3%. Pastrnak leads the Bruins with seven goals and 14 points. Charlie McAvoy is the team leader in assists with 10 and is second with 11 points.
The Bruins are allowing 2.60 goals per game and are killing off 75.0% of short-handed situations. If there is any possibility he can go, Rask will be in the net. He is 6-3-0 with a 2.20 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Jeremy Swayman is the backup and allowed one goal on three shots in his brief time in Game 5.
Second Period Surge Has New York on Brink of Advancing
The New York Islanders scored three goals in the second period to help them defeat Boston. Jordan Eberle, Josh Bailey, and Matthew Barzal each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders. Semyon Varlamov stopped 40 of 44 shots.
New York is averaging 3.36 goals per game and is connecting on 11.2% of their shots, third in both categories. The Islanders are hitting on 29.0% of power-play opportunities, fourth in the postseason. Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each have 11 points to lead the Islanders. Kyle Palmieri is the team leader in goals with six.
New York is allowing 2.82 goals per game and the penalty-killing unit is struggling at 65.2%. It will be Varlamov moving forward, who is 3-3 with a 2.72 GAA and a .925 save percentage. He has won three of his last four starts.
Trends:
Boston:
- None
New York:
- 6-2 in their last eight games.
- 6-0 in their last six games when playing on one day’s rest.
Free NHL Picks
It is desperation time for Boston, and they may be in a very precarious situation with Rask out. Even if he plays, he may not be at his best, and that is going to hurt the Bruins in this game. Boston is 1-5 in the last six games between these teams in New York, and the Islanders have simply outplayed them throughout the series. Plus, the home team is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. Time for New York to advance.
Pick: Take New York at +110.
The Total:
Oddsmakers are pretty sure this game is going under, but I look for the over. New York is going to have the lead heading into the third, leaving Boston to take many chances trying to get back into the contest. That will likely mean pulling their goaltender with five or six minutes left in the game, opening the door for a couple of empty-net tallies for the Islanders. Look for New York to win by at least four goals in this game.
Pick: Go over 5.5 at +120