Mar 8, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) celebrates with heart Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) after scoring a objective in opposition to the San Jose Sharks through the third interval at SAP Heart at San Jose. Necessary Credit score: Robert Edwards-Imagn Photographs The insanity could be out in full drive immediately, however that doesn’t imply all the opposite sports activities have to be uncared for — particularly from a betting standpoint!
Sure, loads of playing alternatives nonetheless exist exterior of the NCAA basketball event. Even on the pitch, the place World Cup qualifying matchups are being performed all through the world. (Hopefully you caught my Libya-Angola below wager earlier, by the best way.)
However we’re going to stay with the professionals on the hardwood and on the ice so far as tonight goes. First, we’ve a crucial Japanese Convention affair to be performed between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders that may have large implications on the postseason image.
Because it stands, Montreal is in possession of the second and remaining wild-card playoff berth with 73 factors. The Islanders are one of many groups intently behind them, carrying 70 factors, so that is considerably of a must-win recreation for the Lengthy Island residents with solely valuable time remaining within the marketing campaign.
To New York’s credit score, they’ve hung in there since jettisoning longtime franchise stalwart Brock Nelson earlier this month and are coming off spectacular back-to-back victories, together with one in opposition to the second-best group within the East, the Florida Panthers.
The widespread denominator in all their video games since Nelson was traded is that they’ve all been low scoring. Actually, all six of these contests featured remaining scores that added as much as not more than six complete objectives.
Such an inclination might proceed additional with the Islanders lately dropping Mathew Barzal to harm and now one in every of their greatest offensive defensemen, Alexander Romanov, out resulting from an sickness.
Tonight’s excessive stakes additionally level to a tightly performed encounter, which could be a contributing trait to an below. It definitely additionally helps that the Isles are final as is within the convention in objectives scored, with 2.7 per recreation.
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The Canadiens can definitely put the puck within the internet, being one of many 13 groups this yr that’s manufacturing not less than three objectives on common. The duo of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the membership’s No. 1 line is about as harmful as any. Nonetheless, they’re about to tangle with among the finest goaltenders within the NHL in Ilya Sorokin.
Not solely is Sorokin within the higher echelon at his place, he’s additionally somebody that’s given this opponent suits. In six profession conferences with Montreal, he’s 4-0-2 with a glowing 1.47 goals-against common and .949 save share.
The 29-year-old Russian native is having fun with one other good yr between the pipes and is amid one in every of his greatest months of the season. For March, Sorokin is 5-2-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .915 save share whereas dealing with practically 30 photographs per recreation.
He’ll probably face much less motion on this evening, because the Habs register fewer photographs per recreation (25.9) than anybody else within the Japanese Convention.
Once more, let’s reiterate the tightness through which this matchup will likely be constructed. Samuel Montembeault ought to do his half as nicely and assist maintain the scoring to a minimal.
Contemplating the overall is universally 5.5 in all places, I’m tacking on a tutorial NBA prop (much like Saturday) with a view to seize an additional objective whereas holding the percentages low.
That prop comes within the Raptors-Warriors contest from the late-night slate and would require each Stephen Curry and Scottie Barnes to churn out over 9.5 factors. A easy further leg, proper?
Decide: Canadiens-Islanders Underneath 6.5, Barnes/Curry each Over 9.5 factors (-125, DraftKings)
NHL betting document: 36-31-3, -2.26 items
Over/unders: 21-22-3
Goalie props: 15-9
Every guess graded as if it had been to win one unit until in any other case acknowledged.
Observe me @MattZylbert on Twitter/X for doubtlessly extra picks added there.
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