NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Devils vs. Islanders (March 27)

Devils vs. Islanders Odds

The New Jersey Devils have officially clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018 and emotions are likely high in the locker room. Their opponent in this game, the New York Islanders, is still trying to put together some wins so they can also punch their ticket to the playoffs.

The Islanders are in the first wild-card position with 83 points and have a lot still to play for. These teams have split their first two games this season, but this contest will definitely have a different vibe as we are in late March and gearing up for the postseason.

The Islanders are coming off of a bad loss, but are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games and are a home underdog in this battle.

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New Jersey Devils

The Devils have been one of the more exciting teams to watch this season thanks to the play of rising stars Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier. Those three have essentially carried the team all season offensively. In their past five games, Hughes has tallied three goals with two assists, Bratt has added four goals with two assists and Hischier has scored twice with five assists.

The offense has been a key theme to Devils' success this season. They are the fifth-highest scoring team in the NHL, averaging 3.48 goals per game, and have tallied 10 goals in their past three contests. The Devils are also generating the fifth-most shots on goal per game, so they will certainly be testing whoever is minding the goal for the Islanders.

With all that being said, New Jersey has struggled when it only has one day of rest. The Devils are 0-4 in their past four games on just one day of rest. However, they are also 8-0 in their past eight games against the Metropolitan division.

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are coming off two pretty tough losses, but a game at home against their rival, the New Jersey Devils, could be exactly what they need to ramp up their game.

Despite losing those two games, the Isles are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games, so they have been playing strong hockey as of late. Ilya Sorokin will be back in the goal after taking the most recent game off and he has been phenomenal on home ice this season, skating to a 16-10-3 record with a 2.03 goals against average and a .933 save percentage.

Sorokin has been the Islanders' backbone all season long, but he hasn't been at his best lately. That being said, he can easily turn his game around. Even if his numbers aren't great, he is still finding ways to help the team win. In his past eight starts, he is 6-1-1 with a 2.63 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.

The Islanders have gotten the best of the Devils in the past couple of seasons and are 15-4 in the past 19 meetings in New York. This game is huge for the Islanders and doesn't necessarily have any meaning for the Devils.

Devils vs. Islanders Pick

The New York Islanders have been very good at UBS Arena this season, boasting a 21-13-3 record on home ice. The Islanders have been getting some secondary scoring, which is huge for their overall success. Their third line has been giving some key offensive contributions. In their past five games Zach Parise has tallied four goals and one assist, J.G. Pageau has a goal and four assists and Hudson Fasching has also tallied two goals with two assists.

The New Jersey Devils are a very good team and I am not discrediting them, but sometimes, when the games matter more, the team that plays with more desperation and urgency has the edge. In my mind, that is the Islanders in this meeting as they need all the points they can tally up.

I have been able to rely on Sorokin all year and he seems to always deliver. I love the Islanders as a home dog.

Pick: Islanders Moneyline

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