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(NHL) NY Islanders vs. Anaheim,
Total: 5.50 | -120.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 5.50 | -120.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks finished with a Western Conference-best 29-8-4 record at home last season. However, the Ducks have dropped two straight at Honda Center, including a 2-0 loss to Calgary on Monday, which had lost an NHL-record 25 consecutive games in Anaheim. The 1-1-1 Ducks will now conclude a season-opening four-game homestand against the 1-1-1 New York Islanders, who come in having won the last four meetings between the two clubs. The Islanders managed to snag a point in a shootout loss to St. Louis on Monday, forging a tie with a pair of goals in the final seven minutes of regulation. New York has won its last three visits to the Honda Center, including a 14-round shootout in November that set a record for the longest in franchise history.
NY Islanders: Captain John Tavares scored twice versus Buffalo on Saturday and is one goal shy of tying Bob Bourne (538) for seventh place on the team's all-time list. He can be a free agent after this season but GM Garth Snow told the media that he felt "excellent" about the current state of negotiations. "I've said it all along, we drafted John at 18, and we think the world of him," Snow said, per the New York Post. "We want him to retire an Islander. He's a first-class person and a first-class player." The team heads west feeling much better about goalie Thomas Greiss, who was pulled from a season-opening loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets but finished with 33 saves against the Blues in Monday's 3-2 shootout loss. However, Halak is expected to be in net, tonight
Anaheim: The Ducks' lineup has been riddled by injuries but center Ryan Getzlaf made his season debut in Monday's 2-0 loss to Calgary. He was given 22 minutes, 14 seconds of ice time, giving him a chance to play his way back into shape. However, Getzlaf's return was tempered by another injury, this one to forward Ondrej Kase (upper body).
The pick: The Ducks were given the luxury of opening the new season with four straight home games and six out of seven at The Pond," overall. The team hasn't taken advantage of that so far but considering the team's 29-8-4 record at home last season, doesn't that figure to change? I expect Anaheim to play well but Gibson has not been sharp so far in goal (3.05 GAA), so the play is an 8* on the Over.
NY Islanders: Captain John Tavares scored twice versus Buffalo on Saturday and is one goal shy of tying Bob Bourne (538) for seventh place on the team's all-time list. He can be a free agent after this season but GM Garth Snow told the media that he felt "excellent" about the current state of negotiations. "I've said it all along, we drafted John at 18, and we think the world of him," Snow said, per the New York Post. "We want him to retire an Islander. He's a first-class person and a first-class player." The team heads west feeling much better about goalie Thomas Greiss, who was pulled from a season-opening loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets but finished with 33 saves against the Blues in Monday's 3-2 shootout loss. However, Halak is expected to be in net, tonight
Anaheim: The Ducks' lineup has been riddled by injuries but center Ryan Getzlaf made his season debut in Monday's 2-0 loss to Calgary. He was given 22 minutes, 14 seconds of ice time, giving him a chance to play his way back into shape. However, Getzlaf's return was tempered by another injury, this one to forward Ondrej Kase (upper body).
The pick: The Ducks were given the luxury of opening the new season with four straight home games and six out of seven at The Pond," overall. The team hasn't taken advantage of that so far but considering the team's 29-8-4 record at home last season, doesn't that figure to change? I expect Anaheim to play well but Gibson has not been sharp so far in goal (3.05 GAA), so the play is an 8* on the Over.
