by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 17, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Where to watch: MSGSN, ATTSN-PT, SN1, TVAS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
FanDuel: Even
BetMGM: Islanders -115, Senators -105
Caesars: Islanders -115, Senators -105
Season record
Penguins: 27-17-9
Islanders: 27-23-7
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!
Penguins - Islanders preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Penguins: won 3-1 at Sharks
Islanders: lost 3-2 (SO) vs. Senators
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be playing the New York Islanders on Friday, February 17 in Elmont, New York.
The Pittsburgh Penguins won against the San Jose Sharks last Tuesday, February 14 at SAP Center in San Jose, California with a score of 3-1. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Casey DeSmith made 38 saves for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"This was a big game for us," DeSmith said. "I was really happy to get the call tonight and even happier that I could contribute to a good win and an important win."
Sidney Crosby had three assists, Rickard Rakell had a goal and two assists and Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Penguins (27-17-9), who lost 6-0 at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
"He had a big game for us," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said of Crosby. "I think he recognizes the importance of a response game after a humbling loss in L.A."
Rakell gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 5:52 of the first period. Jeff Petry put the puck on net from the right boards that Dell couldn't control, and Rakell scored on the rebound.
Guentzel made it 2-0 at 11:33 of the second period after Crosby set him up with a no-look pass from behind the net.
"I think we [can be] better," Crosby said. "I think we can possess the puck a little bit more, give teams a little bit less. But that's the consistency that we've got to find here."
Guentzel scored into an empty goal with 38 seconds left for the 3-1 final.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won five of their last 10 games.
The New York Islanders lost against the Ottawa Senators last Tuesday, February 14 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York with a score of 3-2 in a shootout. The New York Islanders currently rank 6th in the Metropolitan Division.
Ryan Pulock and Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders (27-23-7), who went 1-for-6 on the power play and lost their third in a row (0-1-2). Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves.
"It's disheartening when you put in an effort and can't break through and put up enough numbers on the scoreboard," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "At the same time, I thought there were some good things done tonight. We just have to move forward and get ready for the next game (against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday)."
New York failed to score on a 4-on-3 man-advantage in overtime after Ottawa was penalized for having too many men on the ice at 1:45.
"You [have] to try to be creative," Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson said, "You can't be stagnant. It's easy for the [penalty] killers and the goalie. We [tried] to move around, [but] it obviously didn't work tonight."
Pulock gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 5:47 of the second period with a snap shot from between the face-off circles. It was Pulock's first goal since Dec. 23 (22 games).
Nelson tied it 2-2 on the power play at 7:13 with a one-timer from the right circle after a feed from Dobson.
The Islanders outshot the Senators 15-6 in the third and 5-0 in overtime.
The New York Islanders have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Whether or not this is sustainable, the Islanders have looked really good with Bo Horvat. There's a fun thing brewing there. Islanders 4, Penguins 3
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be playing the New York Islanders on Friday, February 17 in Elmont, New York.
The Pittsburgh Penguins won against the San Jose Sharks last Tuesday, February 14 at SAP Center in San Jose, California with a score of 3-1. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Casey DeSmith made 38 saves for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"This was a big game for us," DeSmith said. "I was really happy to get the call tonight and even happier that I could contribute to a good win and an important win."
Sidney Crosby had three assists, Rickard Rakell had a goal and two assists and Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Penguins (27-17-9), who lost 6-0 at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
"He had a big game for us," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said of Crosby. "I think he recognizes the importance of a response game after a humbling loss in L.A."
Rakell gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 5:52 of the first period. Jeff Petry put the puck on net from the right boards that Dell couldn't control, and Rakell scored on the rebound.
Guentzel made it 2-0 at 11:33 of the second period after Crosby set him up with a no-look pass from behind the net.
"I think we [can be] better," Crosby said. "I think we can possess the puck a little bit more, give teams a little bit less. But that's the consistency that we've got to find here."
Guentzel scored into an empty goal with 38 seconds left for the 3-1 final.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won five of their last 10 games.
The New York Islanders lost against the Ottawa Senators last Tuesday, February 14 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York with a score of 3-2 in a shootout. The New York Islanders currently rank 6th in the Metropolitan Division.
Ryan Pulock and Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders (27-23-7), who went 1-for-6 on the power play and lost their third in a row (0-1-2). Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves.
"It's disheartening when you put in an effort and can't break through and put up enough numbers on the scoreboard," New York coach Lane Lambert said. "At the same time, I thought there were some good things done tonight. We just have to move forward and get ready for the next game (against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday)."
New York failed to score on a 4-on-3 man-advantage in overtime after Ottawa was penalized for having too many men on the ice at 1:45.
"You [have] to try to be creative," Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson said, "You can't be stagnant. It's easy for the [penalty] killers and the goalie. We [tried] to move around, [but] it obviously didn't work tonight."
Pulock gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 5:47 of the second period with a snap shot from between the face-off circles. It was Pulock's first goal since Dec. 23 (22 games).
Nelson tied it 2-2 on the power play at 7:13 with a one-timer from the right circle after a feed from Dobson.
The Islanders outshot the Senators 15-6 in the third and 5-0 in overtime.
The New York Islanders have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Whether or not this is sustainable, the Islanders have looked really good with Bo Horvat. There's a fun thing brewing there. Islanders 4, Penguins 3
Betting trends
Penguins are 15-8 following a non-conference game this season.
Penguins are 13-14 after a road game this season.
Islanders are 25-16 after a home loss the last 3 seasons.
Projected lines
Penguins:
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn -- Jeff Carter -- Kasperi Kapanen
Ryan Poehling -- 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
Ryan Poehling -- Teddy Blueger -- Josh Archibald
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Chad Ruhwedel
Casey DeSmith
Islanders:
Josh Bailey -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Zach Parise -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin -- Otto Koivula -- Hudson Fasching
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov -- Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho -- Noah Dobson
Ilya Sorokin
Josh Bailey -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Zach Parise -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin -- Otto Koivula -- Hudson Fasching
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov -- Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho -- Noah Dobson
Ilya Sorokin
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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.
