Free NHL Picks Today: New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins 12/27/22

The New York Islanders (-105) play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins (-115) at UBS Arena on Tuesday. The total is 5.5 (O: -120, U: +100)Pittsburgh (19-9-5) is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss against the Hurricanes on Thursday.

The Penguins committed six penalties in the game, though they held Carolina without a power play goal. Brock McGinn, Sidney Crosby, and Bryan Rust scored one apiece for the Penguins. Tristan Jarry only had 32 saves on 36 shots against (.888%) in the loss.

New York (19-14-2) beat the Panthers 5-1 on Friday. Anthony Beauvillier scored twice to lead the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin saved 22 of 23 shots in the win (.956%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Penguins won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 6-3 victory in their final meeting in April. Jake Guentzel led Pittsburgh with four points (2G 2A). Brock Nelson led New York with two points (0G 2A). Jarry got the win, saving 36 of 39 shots (.923%).

FACING OFF

Pittsburgh is averaging 3.42 goals per game for the season, seventh in the NHL, and they are taking on an Islanders team that is allowing 2.74 goals a game (8th). Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.20 times a game on average, 15th in the league, and the Penguins are allowing opponents to score 2.88 goals per game (13th).

The Penguins’ 23.21% power play percentage ranks 13th in the league, while the Islanders are 25th with a conversion rate of 18.87%. Pittsburgh has been equally impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 84.76%. New York ranks sixth at 81.82%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 43 points this season, eighth-most in the NHL, Crosby is the top skater for the Penguins. He has 19 goals and 24 assists in 33 games. In the net, Jarry (15-3-4) is Pittsburgh’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.67 GAA and a .920% save percentage.

Nelson and Mathew Barzal lead the Islanders in scoring with 34 and 33 points, respectively. Nelson has 15 goals and 19 assists, while Barzal has five goals and 28 assists (7th) in 35 games. Sorokin (11-11-1) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.37. He has a save percentage of .925%, fifth-best in the league.