New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils
The Islanders shut out the Canadiens last night in Montreal, and that’s actually the second shutout for the Isles in their last 10 games. What’s notable about that is the team had just two shutouts all season until that point, so it appears as though the team defense and goaltending has been a bit better of late than it has all year (and that bears out in their possession numbers since the Olympics). Here’s the problem: the team is 1-4-0 on the second game of a back to back on the road this year with the lone win being a shootout against San Jose and they were outshot 48-28 in that contest. I don’t expect a great effort tonight.
New Jersey is 2-1-2 in their last five games but have managed just eight goals in that stretch (shooting just 5-percent along the way). They lost last night in Ottawa in a shootout, kind of fitting considering the shootout is the reason why they are not at least in a playoff hunt. They did managed 39 shots on goal, too, but just one goal. Not to mention their power play hasn’t converted in four straight games, going 0-for-11 in that stretch.
Each team has taken two games against each other so far this year, ranging from a 6-1 New Jersey win in early March to a 2-1 Islanders win in a shootout two weeks ago. I don’t feel comfortable taking a goalie on either side tonight, though I will say this: the Islanders have just 12 goals in five games (2.4 per game) while on the second of a back to back since the Olympics. They’ve scored at a higher rate otherwise, with 41 goals in 15 games in the others (2.73).
I see this as a bit of a toss-up, so again I will avoid the goalies and pick the value plays from either side for my 50/50 games.
|
Top RW Value |
Top LW Value |
Top C Value |
Top D Value |
Bargain Bin |
|
(NJD) $9842 |
(NYI) $7226 |
(NYI) $8921 |
(NYI) $5458 |
(NJD) $5459 |
