PREMIUM
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(NHL) NY Islanders vs. Anaheim,
Money Line: -175.00 Anaheim (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -175.00 Anaheim (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The NY Islander head West for three games in four nights, looking to get something going. The team is just 5-8-4 and considering that they are winless on the road so far this season (0-4-1), the prospects for a turnaround don't look good. Anaheim is 9-7-3, as the Ducks share first place in the Pacific Division with the LA Kings and the surprising Edmonton Oilers. However, the Ducks have yet two win more than two in a row all season. In fact, Anaheim sabotaged its chance for a third straight victory Sunday night with two listless opening periods in a 3-2 loss to the Kings.
NY Islanders: Captain John Tavares (13 points) and Brock Nelson (12) share the team lead with five goals apiece but are the only players with more than eight points. It will help when defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (four goals, eight points, club-best plus-10 rating) returns but while he has resumed skating, he isn't close to returning due to a broken jaw. The Islanders own the worst record in the Eastern Conference following a frustrating November. New York has lost four consecutive games this month and seven of eight. Two losses took place during overtime, another two in shootouts.
Anaheim: Talking about the Ducks' loss to the Kings, head coach Randy Carlyle said, "We didn't play anywhere near where we're capable of. They outworked us for two periods. Pucks were going through our sticks. We couldn't execute a tape-to-tape pass. They basically manhandled us against the wall, and we didn't get involved physically until the third period." That said, Anaheim has been bolstered by the return of Rickard Rakell, who scored his sixth goal of the season Sunday and has 10 points in 10 games since returning from abdominal surgery and a contract dispute. Ryan Kesler (team-high eight goals), Jakob Silfverberg (six) and Andrew Cogliano (five) comprise Anaheim's highest-scoring line with Kesler recording seven of his scores in 10 November games.
The pick: New York was expected to be a Stanley Cup contender in 2016-17 after reaching consecutive playoffs for the first time since 2002-04 and winning its first series since 1993. However, the Islanders currently have the fewest points in the NHL while ranking in the bottom 10 in goals for and against, penalty killing and power-play efficiency. The Islanders are averaging just 1.80 goals per game on the road, making the Ducks an 8* play.
NY Islanders: Captain John Tavares (13 points) and Brock Nelson (12) share the team lead with five goals apiece but are the only players with more than eight points. It will help when defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (four goals, eight points, club-best plus-10 rating) returns but while he has resumed skating, he isn't close to returning due to a broken jaw. The Islanders own the worst record in the Eastern Conference following a frustrating November. New York has lost four consecutive games this month and seven of eight. Two losses took place during overtime, another two in shootouts.
Anaheim: Talking about the Ducks' loss to the Kings, head coach Randy Carlyle said, "We didn't play anywhere near where we're capable of. They outworked us for two periods. Pucks were going through our sticks. We couldn't execute a tape-to-tape pass. They basically manhandled us against the wall, and we didn't get involved physically until the third period." That said, Anaheim has been bolstered by the return of Rickard Rakell, who scored his sixth goal of the season Sunday and has 10 points in 10 games since returning from abdominal surgery and a contract dispute. Ryan Kesler (team-high eight goals), Jakob Silfverberg (six) and Andrew Cogliano (five) comprise Anaheim's highest-scoring line with Kesler recording seven of his scores in 10 November games.
The pick: New York was expected to be a Stanley Cup contender in 2016-17 after reaching consecutive playoffs for the first time since 2002-04 and winning its first series since 1993. However, the Islanders currently have the fewest points in the NHL while ranking in the bottom 10 in goals for and against, penalty killing and power-play efficiency. The Islanders are averaging just 1.80 goals per game on the road, making the Ducks an 8* play.
