The New York Islanders (36-23-5) and St. Louis Blues (25-29-9) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Islanders are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-110o / -110u). The Islanders are a -118 favorite to win outright, while the Blues are -102 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Islanders vs. Blues predictions and NHL picks.
Islanders vs. Blues Odds, Pick
| Islanders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +205 | 5.5 -110o / -110u | -118 |
| Blues Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -260 | 5.5 -110o / -110u | -102 |
- Islanders vs. Blues Spread: Islanders -1.5 (+205), Blues +1.5 (-260)
- Islanders vs. Blues Over/Under: 5.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Islanders vs. Blues Moneyline: Islanders -118, Blues -102
Islanders vs. Blues Preview
New York Islanders
The main reason the New York Islanders bring a 36-23-5 record into this contest is the play of goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who is projected to start in this game. It appears to be a two-horse race for this year’s Vezina Trophy, with Sorokin competing against Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Through 39 starts this season, Sorokin is 23-14-2 with a .914 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average. That success could continue against the St. Louis Blues, a team Sorokin has handled well throughout his career.
Across seven meetings, Sorokin owns a .926 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average. However, he has won only four of those games, which highlights New York’s offensive struggles.
Sorokin has rarely received consistent goal support, and this season has been no different. Entering this matchup, the Islanders rank 22nd in the league in goals scored per game, last in power play percentage and 25th in shooting percentage.
St. Louis Blues
The good news for New York is that St. Louis’ offense has been even less productive. This season, the Blues rank 28th, 25th and 24th, respectively, in those same three categories.
St. Louis’ offensive struggles stem from its inability to generate high-danger scoring chances. The Blues enter this contest ranked last in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60).
That said, their defense has been stronger, as St. Louis ranks 12th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). Supporting that defensive effort is goaltender Joel Hofer, who is expected to start tonight.
Islanders vs. Blues Prediction
Hofer enters this matchup in excellent form. He has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his past four starts, posting a 4-0 record with a .962 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average during that span.
Like Sorokin, Hofer has also performed well against Tuesday's opponent. In two career starts against the Islanders, Hofer owns a .955 save percentage and a 1.48 goals-against average.
Pick: Under 5.5 (-110 at FanDuel | Play to -115)
