Islanders vs Penguins 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 4 Prediction.

Islanders vs Penguins 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 4 Prediction

Written by on April 16, 2019

For the most part, the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs has not been particularly kind to the favorites. It is once again proof that rising to the top in the NHL may be the toughest path in all of the major professional sports. How else do you explain the top team in the NHL in the regular season being 3 games down and on the brink of elimination? The playoffs are the great equalizer in hockey, as any team that gets in can suddenly get hot and make a run all the way to the final.

The New York Islanders were a fantastic story this season, but a lot of people thought that they might be in trouble against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that is filled to brimming with playoff experience. Through the first 3 games of this series, it has been the Islanders who have looked like the prime playoff performers, as they are up 3-0 and have a shot at eliminating the Penguins on the road on Tuesday night. The Penguins are favored by 1 ½ in this potential elimination game, with the O/U set at 5 ½.

Islanders vs Penguins 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 4 Prediction

Why bet on the New York Islanders?

It looked for a while as though the Islanders might be on the path to winning the Metropolitan Division, but a late surge from the Washington Capitals saw them fall down to second and into an opening round match-up with the Penguins. The feeling was that dropping down the seedings might hurt the Islanders, but they have looked great. They won Game 1 4-3 after OT, but since then, they have only surrendered 2 goals in 2 games.

It’s the sort of defensive performance that usually takes a team deep into the postseason, but they will also know that this Penguins team is not going down without a fight. New York were a solid 24-14-3 on the road this season and have now gone 21-20 ATS on the road.

Team Records

  • All: 50-27-7
  • Home: 26-13-4
  • Away: 24-14-3
  • ATS: 44-40
  • Over/Under: 28-52-4

Why bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Given that these two teams split their 4-game regular season series, the feeling was that this was a series that might be destined to go all the way. That still might happen, but the Penguins need a serious spark to get the turnaround started. The Islanders have done a fantastic job of shutting down the big-time players on the Penguins, particularly Malkin, who has looked increasingly frustrated as this series has progressed.

Islanders vs Penguins Game 4 is a win or go home for Pittsburgh.

It’s hard to believe that Pittsburgh have had such a tough time finding the net through the first 3 games, so perhaps we should be looking for an offensive breakout of some kind. The Penguins are 6-3 SU in the last 9 times that the Islanders have paid a visit to Pittsburgh, so this series is certainly not over just yet.

Team Records

  • All: 44-27-13
  • Home: 23-14-4
  • Away: 21-13-9
  • ATS: 40-44
  • Over/Under: 36-42-6

Islanders vs Penguins 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Trends

  • NY is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
  • NY is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Islanders’s last 5 games on the road
  • Pittsburgh is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
  • Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games at home

Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Islanders vs Penguins

How much gas do the Penguins have left in the tank? This is a team that has known playoff success in recent years, so perhaps a little bit of pride will shine through in what may be their final home game of the season. I’m on the Penguins to grind out a win.

Score: New York Islanders 2 – Pittsburgh Penguins 3