Free NHL Picks Today: Boston Bruins vs New York Islanders 2/18/23

The New York Islanders (+185) head to take on the Boston Bruins (-225) at TD Garden on Saturday. The total is 5.5 (O: -115, U: -105)New York (28-23-7) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a high-scoring 5-4 win over the Penguins yesterday, snapping a three-game losing streak.

The Islanders committed only one penalty in the game, holding Pittsburgh without a power play goal. Brock Nelson and Anders Lee both scored twice for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin had 40 saves in the win.Boston (41-8-5) beat the Predators 5-0 on Thursday.

Five players found the net for the Bruins. Jeremy Swayman had a dominant performance with 28 saves to earn his second shutout of the season.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Bruins have won both games between the teams this season, including a 4-1 victory in their most recent meeting in January, their third straight win against New York.

Charlie McAvoy (1G 1A) and Charlie Coyle (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Boston. Zach Parise scored New York’s only goal. Linus Ullmark got the win, saving 25 of 26 shots (.961%).

FACING OFF

New York is averaging 2.91 goals per game for the season, 24th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Bruins team that is allowing just 2.07 goals a game (1st). Meanwhile, Boston has found the net 3.69 times a game on average, third in the league, and the Islanders are allowing opponents to score 2.72 goals per game (8th).

The Bruins’ 24.19% power play percentage ranks eighth in the league, while the Islanders are 27th with a conversion rate of 16.97%. Both teams are adept at penalty killing, as Boston has the league’s highest PK% at 86.10% and New York is fifth at 82.63%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Nelson and Mathew Barzal have been the top skaters for the Islanders this season with 55 and 51 points. In the net, Sorokin (17-17-5) is New York’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.40 GAA and a .923% save percentage, fifth-best in the league.

David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with 74 points (5th in the league). He has 39 goals (2nd in the league) and 35 assists. Ullmark (27-4-1) has the best goals against average for Boston at 1.90, best in the league. He has a save percentage of .937%, also best.

HOME AND AWAY

New York is 11-13-4 away from home this season. Boston is 22-2-3 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Islanders are 7-4 without a day off and 4-4 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Bruins are 4-1 with a rest advantage.