Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon Sport
New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Is it too late for the Islanders?
The New York Islanders are visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.
The Islanders need to push strong for the playoffs
The New York Islanders are tenth in the Eastern Conference with a 33-27-15 record. They have won three of the last four games and are coming off a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Islanders are 23rd in the league, scoring 2.95 and allowing 3.27 goals per game. Matthew Barzal leads the team with 76 points, ten more than Noah Dobson.
The Blue Jackets are locked for the bottom
The Columbus Blue Jackets are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 25-38-12 record. After losing six consecutive games, they won the last two against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Colorado Avalanche. The Blue Jackets are 25th in the league, scoring 2.85 goals per game and second to last, allowing 3.61 goals per game. Johnny Gaudreau leads the team with 56 points.
Betting Trends
The Islanders have won 8 of the last 9 games against the Blue Jackets. New York is 4-8 SU in the last 12 games overall, 2-5 SU in the last 7 games on the road and 2-7 SU in the last 9 games against teams from the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets are 3-9 SU in the last 12 games overall, 1-7 SU in the last 8 games against teams from the Eastern Conference and 4-16 SU in the last 20 games against teams from the Metropolitan Division.
Prediction and Conclusion
The New York Islanders are still in the playoff race and have a legitimate chance of getting there. After having a major downfall the previous week, they picked up their form, winning three of the last four games. Even though they are tenth in the conference, the Islanders are only two points behind the seventh seed, the Philadelphia Flyers. The Blue Jackets have been at the bottom of the East for most of the season, but they showed they can play in the last two wins. The Islanders have won eight of the last nine against Columbus, and given the importance of this game, they will win tonight as well.
