by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Feb 20, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Where to watch: MSGSN, ATTSN-PT
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Penguins -135, Islanders +115
FanDuel: Penguins -140, Islanders +115
BetMGM: Penguins -130, Islanders +110
Caesars: Penguins -135, Islanders +115
Season record
Islanders: 28-24-7
Penguins: 27-19-9
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Islanders - Penguins preview, prediction and analysis
The New York Islanders will be playing the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, February 20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The New York Islanders lost against the Boston Bruins last Saturday, February 18 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts with a score of 6-2. The New York Islanders currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Kyle Palmieri and Matt Martin scored, and Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves for the Islanders (28-24-7), who won 5-4 against the Penguins on Friday.
"It seemed like every time we made a mistake, it ended up in the back of our net," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "[Boston] obviously has the ability to do that. We didn't make a ton of mistakes. … The scoring chances throughout were fairly equal, but we came out on the wrong end of it."
DeBrusk gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 2:19 of the first period on the power play, completing a tic-tac-toe sequence with a backhand shot through Varlamov's five-hole.
"I think we were maybe a little bit on our heels," Palmieri said. "[We] put ourselves on the penalty kill. Obviously, that's a pretty dangerous power play over there. They score, they're at home, Saturday night, it's a bit of a momentum shift. It's on us to kind of grab it back there. [We] weren't able to do it."
After two more goals scored by Boston, Palmieri cut it to 3-1 at 6:46 of the second period, bumping in a cross-ice pass from Anders Lee on the doorstep. Three more goals were scored by Boston before Martin scored on a rebound from the slot at 13:42 of the third period for the 6-2 final.
The New York Islanders have won five of their last 10 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost against the New Jersey Devils last Saturday, February 18 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a score of 5-2. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Evgeni Malkin scored twice, and Dustin Tokarski made 38 saves for the Penguins (27-19-9), who have lost three of four. They lost 5-4 at the New York Islanders on Friday.
"I think it's a game of momentum," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "When you have it, you have to ride and you have to maximize the opportunity. When you lose it, you have to try to get it back. We've talked all year about handling the ebbs and flows of the game, doing a better job in those circumstances.
"It's the inconsistency of it. I don't think our details have been as good as they were there for the stretch when we climbed up to the top of the League. We've just gotten away from a lot of it. We haven't been as good. We have to be better."
Malkin put the Penguins ahead 1-0 on the power play at 3:33 of the first period, tapping in a pass from Rickard Rakell near the left post.
After New Jersey scored four goals, Malkin cut it to 4-2 at 14:43 with a wrist shot from the top of the slot.
"We have to find a way," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "We have to find consistency in our game. … You want to find it. Like I've said before, we're going to see what we're made of here down the stretch."
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
I still can't trust the Islanders even after the Horvat trade. Against the Penguins should be a nuisance. Penguins 4, Islanders 3
The New York Islanders lost against the Boston Bruins last Saturday, February 18 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts with a score of 6-2. The New York Islanders currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Kyle Palmieri and Matt Martin scored, and Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves for the Islanders (28-24-7), who won 5-4 against the Penguins on Friday.
"It seemed like every time we made a mistake, it ended up in the back of our net," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "[Boston] obviously has the ability to do that. We didn't make a ton of mistakes. … The scoring chances throughout were fairly equal, but we came out on the wrong end of it."
DeBrusk gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 2:19 of the first period on the power play, completing a tic-tac-toe sequence with a backhand shot through Varlamov's five-hole.
"I think we were maybe a little bit on our heels," Palmieri said. "[We] put ourselves on the penalty kill. Obviously, that's a pretty dangerous power play over there. They score, they're at home, Saturday night, it's a bit of a momentum shift. It's on us to kind of grab it back there. [We] weren't able to do it."
After two more goals scored by Boston, Palmieri cut it to 3-1 at 6:46 of the second period, bumping in a cross-ice pass from Anders Lee on the doorstep. Three more goals were scored by Boston before Martin scored on a rebound from the slot at 13:42 of the third period for the 6-2 final.
The New York Islanders have won five of their last 10 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost against the New Jersey Devils last Saturday, February 18 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a score of 5-2. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Evgeni Malkin scored twice, and Dustin Tokarski made 38 saves for the Penguins (27-19-9), who have lost three of four. They lost 5-4 at the New York Islanders on Friday.
"I think it's a game of momentum," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "When you have it, you have to ride and you have to maximize the opportunity. When you lose it, you have to try to get it back. We've talked all year about handling the ebbs and flows of the game, doing a better job in those circumstances.
"It's the inconsistency of it. I don't think our details have been as good as they were there for the stretch when we climbed up to the top of the League. We've just gotten away from a lot of it. We haven't been as good. We have to be better."
Malkin put the Penguins ahead 1-0 on the power play at 3:33 of the first period, tapping in a pass from Rickard Rakell near the left post.
After New Jersey scored four goals, Malkin cut it to 4-2 at 14:43 with a wrist shot from the top of the slot.
"We have to find a way," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "We have to find consistency in our game. … You want to find it. Like I've said before, we're going to see what we're made of here down the stretch."
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
I still can't trust the Islanders even after the Horvat trade. Against the Penguins should be a nuisance. Penguins 4, Islanders 3
Betting trends
Home team has won the last four meetings.
Islanders are 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
Penguins are 37-15 in last 52 meetings in Pittsburgh.
Projected lines
Islanders:
Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Zach Parise -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Josh Bailey -- Casey Cizikas -- Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin -- Andy Andreoff -- Hudson Fasching
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov -- Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho -- Noah Dobson
Ilya Sorokin
Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Zach Parise -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Josh Bailey -- Casey Cizikas -- Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin -- Andy Andreoff -- Hudson Fasching
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov -- Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho -- Noah Dobson
Ilya Sorokin
Penguins:
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn -- Jeff Carter -- Kasperi Kapanen
Drew O'Connor -- Teddy Blueger -- Josh Archibald
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Chad Ruhwedel
Casey DeSmith
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn -- Jeff Carter -- Kasperi Kapanen
Drew O'Connor -- Teddy Blueger -- Josh Archibald
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Chad Ruhwedel
Casey DeSmith
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
