The Florida Panthers (3-1-1) play host to the New York Islanders (2-3-0) at FLA Live Arena on Sunday. The Panthers are -200 favorites, and the total is 6.5. New York is playing the second of a back-to-back after suffering a high-scoring 5-3 loss against the Lightning yesterday. Anthony Beauvillier, Ryan Pulock, and Matt Martin each scored once for the Islanders.
Ilya Sorokin saved only 21 of 26 shots against (.807%) in the loss. Florida fell 3-2 (OT) to the Lightning on Friday. Matthew Tkachuk and Rudolfs Balcers both scored once for the Panthers. Tkachuk added an assist to share the scoring lead with Brandon Montour, who had two assists. Sergei Bobrovsky only had 29 saves on 32 shots against (.906%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Panthers won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 3-1 victory on October 13, their fourth straight win against New York. Tkachuk, Eetu Luostarinen, and Patric Hornqvist were on the scoresheet for Florida. Noah Dobson scored New York’s only goal. Bobrovsky got the win, saving 32 of 33 shots (.969%).
FACING OFF
New York is averaging 3.40 goals per game so far this season, 12th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Panthers team that is allowing 3.00 goals a game (12th). Meanwhile, Florida has found the net 3.20 times a game on average, 16th in the league, and the Islanders are allowing opponents to score 3.00 goals per game (12th).
Don’t be surprised to see a few power play opportunities for the Islanders, as the Panthers have been penalized 5.80 times a game, second-most in the NHL, for an average of 12.00 minutes (eighth-highest). The visitors are averaging 4.20 penalties (22nd) and 8.40 penalty minutes a game (25th).
The Islanders’ 6.67% power play percentage is the fourth-lowest in the league, while the Panthers rank 27th with a conversion rate of 8.70%. While poor on the power play, New York has been impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 100.00%. Florida ranks 13th at 82.61%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With five points each this season, Anders Lee (2G 3A) and Brock Nelson (0G 5A) are the top skaters for the Islanders. In the net, Semyon Varlamov (1-0-0) is New York’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.00 GAA and a .929% save percentage. Sorokin (1-3-0) leads the Islanders in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 2.83 and a save percentage of .908%.Tkachuk leads the Panthers in scoring with eight points (10th in the league). He has three goals and five assists (9th). Bobrovsky (2-1-1) has the best goals against average for Florida at 2.78. He has a save percentage of .916%.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Florida Panthers (-190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
