Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders Betting Preview
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
When: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders – view all NHL lines
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Betting on the Washington Capitals (33-10-6)
Has the All-Star break cooled off the Caps? The team is about to find that out later tonight in Brooklyn, as they meet the Islanders for the fifth and last time this regular season.
Washington, which got a 5-2 road win over New Jersey just before the weekend, has been on a tear, going 8-1-1 in its last 10 games. Right now, the Caps just seem to be a well-oiled machine with no weak areas. They’ve put up 4.6 goals over their last games, and that includes their loss to Ottawa on January 24 in which they were shut out, 3-0. On the other side of the ice, Braden Holtby has been spectacular minding the net. Holtbeast intends to finish this month undefeated, having gone 9-0 to go with a 1.82 GAA and .935 SV% in 11 starts thus far this January.
Holtby was on goal in all four meetings versus New York this season, going 2-2 with a 2.56 GAA and .908 SV%–not quite the solid numbers he’s posted this campaign, but his form of late is something difficult to second guess.
Justin Williams and Matt Niskanen each has three points this season against New York.
The Caps are 3-1 in their last three road games against the Isles.
Betting on the New York Islanders (21-17-9)
Don’t look now, but the Islanders appear to have found their groove. The squad has won five of its last six outings and is currently riding a two-game win streak. And it’s not patsies that they’ve beaten during that run, having taken down the likes of Dallas, Los Angeles, Columbus, and Montreal during that six-game stretch.
The Isles’ 3-1 win over Montreal last Thursday gave the team a morale-boosting victory heading into the second half of the season, which New York wants to kick off with a resounding triumph over the Washington at home. The Isles are 4-1 in their last five at home.
The coaching change has seemingly lit a fire under the team, as the Isles have gone 4-0-1 since Doug Weight assumed the head-coaching gig. Both offense and defense have stepped up in the past five games for New York, outscoring opponents 16-7 during that span.
Aside from Weight, Washington is also going to see a new Islanders goalie across the ice for the first time this season. Jaroslav Halak was the goalie in all past four meetings with Washington, but he’s now plying his trade in the AHL. For now, it looks like the Isles will roll with Thomas Greiss, who is 5-2 with a 1.98 GAA and .935 SV% in 10 starts this January.
Holtby doesn’t seem to rattle New York’s scorers. The Isles have mustered 10 goals against Holtby this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Washington wins, 4-3.
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