Canadiens vs Islanders Odds: NHL Preview, Prediction

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  • NHL betting expert Greg Liodice looks over the Canadiens vs Islanders odds, then makes an NHL prediction.
  • Liodice is targeting the total in this game, so continue reading for his over/under pick.

Canadiens vs. Islanders Odds

Thursday, April 11
7:30 p.m. ET
ESPN+
Canadiens Odds+180
Islanders Odds-220
Over / Under
5.5
-128 / +104
Odds via bet365. Get up-to-the-minute NHL odds here.

Here's everything you need to know about the Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders on Thursday, April 11 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.

Montreal is fresh off a dominating 9-3 win against the Flyers on Tuesday, but it hasn't always been peaches and cream. Prior to the win, it was in the middle of a funk and lost three in a row. Regardless, the Canadiens are preparing for the draft and offseason as they’re eliminated from the playoff hunt.

If there was ever a time to get hot, it’s now. The Islanders have won five in a row, including a 4-2 win against the Rangers. Not only that, but they’re also in the middle of a heated playoff race with four other teams.


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Montreal Canadiens

What a night Tuesday was for second-year player Juraj Slafkovsky, who netted his first career hat trick. Captain Nick Suzuki has six points in his past five games, and Cole Caufield is on a five-game point streak. Additionally, Michael Matheson has been on a tear with 11 points in his past seven games.

Apart from Tuesday, the Canadiens have been pretty terrible at 5-on-5 play. Since March 25, they’ve ranked 28th in expected goals with a 42.89 xGF%. Defensively, they’re just as bad with a fourth-worst 4.01 xGA/60.

While Montreal’s penalty kill over the past 10 games has been elite at 85%, the power play is a dumpster fire at a 11.5% clip.

Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau have shared responsibilities in Montreal’s crease, but I think Montembeault will get the nod. Apart from the disaster he had on Saturday, he’s really been strong as of late. He’s playing to a .904 SV% and a 3.8 goals saved above expected (GSAx).


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New York Islanders

The Islanders are on a decent run right now, and Mathew Barzal is a big part of it with a five-game point streak. Noah Dobson is also having a career-high season with 70 points, and Bo Horvat has goals in four of his past five games. Speaking of goals, Kyle Palmieri has been a goal scoring wizard in three straight.

Even amidst this five-game streak, this team could still be better 5-on-5. The Islanders are 20th with a 50.22 xGF% and 15th with a 3.17 xGA/60.

New York’s special teams have been a disaster all season, and this 10-game stretch is no exception. It’s scored on the power play 11% of the time, and the penalty kill is at 73.7%.

I genuinely don’t know what happens in net tonight. Ilya Sorokin has had a very down year and Semyon Varlamov has been a catalyst for this run, so perhaps we'll see him. He’s playing to a .936 SV% in his past six starts and has 8.7 GSAx.


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Canadiens vs. Islanders

Betting Pick & Prediction

The total for this game is listed at 5.5, and I think this has the potential to go over. With odds at -128, the books also agree. The fact is, Montreal often finds itself in high scoring games.

New York, on the other hand, can be a mixed bag. However, given the weapons on this team, and how well it’s playing as of late, I can see the Islanders lighting up an already struggling Canadiens’ defense.

Pick: Over 5.5 Goals (-128)

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About the Author
Greg is a native of Long Island, NY and a Hofstra Alum. He's a writer for Action Network who focuses mainly on the NHL. When he's not outside with his dog, Kiki, you can find him yelling at the TV if his New York Islanders aren't getting the job done.

Follow Greg Liodice @Gregasus14 on Twitter/X.

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