- The Devils are a solid -185 moneyline favorite over the Islanders on Sunday
- New Jersey is trying to avoid going 0-3 during their homestand
- See below for my Islanders vs Devils prediction, odds and starting goalies
If there was ever a get-right slate for New Jersey Devils (41-31-7, 19-15-5 home), their final three games of the season are it, starting Sunday when the New York Islanders (34-33-12, 15-17-7 away) come to town for a Sunday matinee.
The Islanders are one of three straight non-playoff teams that can work as a Devils’ tune-up before the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s a big reason why the Devils are hefty -185 moneyline favorites in the NHL odds.
Puck drop is scheduled for 1pm ET, with TNT providing the broadcast coverage.
Islanders vs Devils Prediction
- Devils -1.5 (+135 at Bet365)
The Devils should be gaining momentum as they head into the playoffs. Locked in third in the Metropolitan Division, Jersey’s final five games of the season were against teams who won’t be going to the playoffs.
Things haven’t gone to plan two games into that stretch. Instead, New Jersey is trying to regroup, after getting bombed 7-2 by the Boston Bruins, then smacked last game by the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2.
A normally stout defensive team, ranking sixth in goals against on the year at 2.66 has suddenly sprung a leak, allowing 11 goals in the last two games.
The Devils as currently constructed aren’t built to outscore those problems, ranking 19th in goals for at 2.95 per contest.
It will be the third and final meeting between the Isles and Devis this season, with the either side winning on visitor ice, both by 4-3 OT scores.
But there’s a lot less on the line for New York, as it was officially eliminated from playoff contention after losing last game to the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3 in a shootout.
It was an inevitable end for the the Islanders, who have just two wins in their last 11 games, losing five games by at least two goals.
Offense has been their problem for much of the season, as New York could only muster 2.77 goals per game, which ranked inside the Bottom 10 in NHL scoring.
New Jersey has taken four of the last six in this head-to-head, and could really use a bounce back win to steer their end-of-season into a positive direction.
I like them to pounce on their rivals early, and leave no doubt on Sunday afternoon.
New York Islanders vs New Jersey Devils Odds
The Islanders vs Devils odds have the visitors pegged as +155 underdogs on the moneyline, with the total set at 5.5 goals. The Over is fetching -120 odds, while the Under is +100. These teams have seen the Over go 5-2-1 over the last eight head-to-head meetings.
Odds as of April 12 at Bet365. Check out SBD’s Bet365 Sportsbook review to see the latest sign-up bonuses.
Islanders vs Devils Starting Goalies
It wasn’t exactly the stuff rookie goaltending dreams are made of. Last game against the Flyers, head coach Patrick Roy inserted Tristan Lennox into the game for his first pro action. Lennox went on to surrender a goal on the second shot he faced, and Roy yanked him after just four minutes of game action.
It’s expected Lennox will get another look Sunday against the Devils.
He’ll be battling with veteran Jacob Markstrom, who ranks 12th in the NHL in GAA at 2.53. Markstrom had won four straight starts before getting lit on fire by the Bruins, allowing seven goals on just 23 shots.
Markstrom is 6-0-2 in his last eight starts against the Islanders.
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The New York Islanders will face off against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, April 13th in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning and will be looking to secure a crucial win in this late-season game.
The Islanders currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points, while the Devils are in seventh place with 82 points. The Islanders have been playing well as of late, winning seven of their last ten games, while the Devils have struggled, losing six of their last ten.
In terms of odds, the Islanders are favored to win this game. They have a strong record at home and have been playing some of their best hockey of the season. The Devils, on the other hand, have been inconsistent and will need to step up their game if they want to come out on top.
As for the starting goalies, it is likely that the Islanders will start Semyon Varlamov in net. Varlamov has been solid for the Islanders this season, posting a 2.62 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. He will be a key player for the Islanders in this game.
On the other side, the Devils will likely start Mackenzie Blackwood in goal. Blackwood has had a decent season for the Devils, with a 2.71 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. He will need to be at the top of his game if the Devils hope to pull off an upset against the Islanders.
Overall, this game promises to be a competitive and intense matchup between two division rivals. The Islanders will be looking to solidify their playoff position, while the Devils will be looking to play spoiler and improve their own standing. It should be a game filled with excitement and drama, and fans of both teams will not want to miss it.
