Free NHL Picks Today: Winnipeg Jets vs New York Islanders 2/26/23

The New York Islanders (30-25-7), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, are on the road to take on the Winnipeg Jets (35-23-1) and their weak power play offense at Canada Life Centre on Sunday. New York is coming off a 3-2 loss against the Kings on Friday.

The Islanders committed only two penalties in the game, holding Los Angeles without a power play goal. Adam Pelech and Noah Dobson both scored once for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin only had 25 saves on 28 shots against (.892%) in the loss.

Winnipeg fell 5-1 to the Avalanche on Friday. Mason Appleton was the only player to score for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck started in the loss and only had 21 saves on 26 shots (.807%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Islanders won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 2-1 victory on February 22, their sixth straight win against Winnipeg. Simon Holmstrom and Sebastian Aho were on the scoresheet for New York. Nikolaj Ehlers scored Winnipeg’s only goal. Sorokin got the win, saving 25 of 26 shots (.961%).

FACING OFF

New York is averaging 2.89 goals per game for the season, 24th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Jets team that is allowing just 2.63 goals a game (4th).

Meanwhile, Winnipeg has found the net 3.07 times a game on average, 19th in the league, and the Islanders are allowing opponents to score 2.74 goals per game (10th).

The Islanders’ 30th-ranked power play offense (16.38%) will face a tough test against the Jets, who are the league’s second-best penalty killing team (84.62%).

Winnipeg, meanwhile, has scored on 21.88% of their power play opportunities (13th), which the hosts will be seeking to add to against New York’s seventh-ranked 82.22% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 59 points this season, Brock Nelson is the top skater for the Islanders. He has 26 goals and 33 assists in 62 games. In the net, Sorokin (20-17-5) is New York’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 2.39 GAA and a .925% save percentage, fourth-best in the league. Kyle Connor leads the Jets in scoring with 66 points. He has 26 goals and 40 assists.

Hellebuyck (26-17-1) is the top goalie for Winnipeg with a goals against average of 2.39. He has a save percentage of .925%, third-best in the league.