New York Islanders vs Colorado Avalanche - Odds and Predictions

Where: Pepsi Center – Denver, CO.

When: Wednesday, February 19, 10 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): Alti, MSG+ | WFAN

New York Avalanche (Away)

Head Coach: Barry Trotz{All-Time 843-614-60-147 NYI, WSH, NSH}

Sitting third in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division, the New York Islanders have been one of the most defensive teams in the league this season.

However, their offense has struggled beyond their top line and the team is currently riding a three-game losing skid.

Offense

As mentioned earlier, this team is a defensive powerhouse but has struggled to put pucks in the net all season. They lack secondary scoring and are highly expected to make some offensive moves before the trade deadline.

The Islanders currently have the ninth-fewest goals scored this season.

A big part of that is due to the fact that the team has the second-fewest shots on net this season behind only the Detroit Red Wings – who are ranked dead last in the NHL’s standings. With that said, their shooting percentage sits at 9.7 percent; not the best, but also not the worst.

Their power play is another big issue they face, though. The team ranks 22nd in the NHL with the man-advantage with an 18.18 percent and only 24 power-play goals this season.

Defense

On the other side of the spectrum, we’re talking about a juggernaut here. For starters, the Islanders have allowed just 157 goals against this season – the fifth-fewest – and just 125 at even strength.

When it comes to shots, the Isles have allowed the 14th-fewest against. Put those numbers together and this team boasts a combined save percentage of .914 – which is also good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. This team did win the Jennings award last season, after all.

What they need to look out for is their penalty killing, which a team like Colorado could easily take advantage of. Currently, the Islanders rank 15th when it comes to killing penalties. They have an 80.39 percent and have allowed 30 power-play goals against this season. They will need to tighten that up for Wednesday night.

Goaltending

Former Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov is expected to be in net for the Islanders when they face the Avs. Varlamov has put together a season record of 17-11-4 with a 2.53 goals-against average .918 save percentage. He has registered two shutouts this year.

Colorado Avalanche (Home)

Head Coach: Jared Bednar{All-Time 136-134-34 COL}

Third in the Central Division, the Avalanche have been one of the most exciting teams to watch this season.

But injuries have hit them at an inopportune time as goalie Philipp Grubauer and forward Mikko Rantanen will both be missing several upcoming games. Colorado, too, is on a three-game losing streak of their own.

Offense

The Colorado Avalanche have been here before. Even with one of their top scorers out with injury, this team is still one of the most dangerous groups in the NHL.

Forward Nathan MacKinnon is third-overall in league scoring with 82 points and the team has scored the third-highest amount of goals this season with 206.

The team ranks 12th in the league when it comes to shots on goal which adds up to mean that they boast the league’s second-best shooting percentage at 10.8 percent behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning.

What doesn’t seem to add up for the Avs this season is their power play. The team ranks only 19th with the man advantage, having only 39 power-play goals and a 19.40 percentage.

Defense

On that note, the Avalanche struggle to kill penalties as well. The team has allowed 37 power-play goals against and have a 78.98 percent when killing penalties. They have scored eight shorthanded goals, however.

The Avalanche have allowed just seven more shots on goal this season than their opponents and also rank within the league’s top-ten in save percentage at eighth. The team’s combined save percentage sits at .911.

The big picture here will be the absence of Philipp Grubauer but Pavel Francouz is a more than capable goaltender – especially against a team that isn’t considered an offensive threat. Colorado will also have the overall edge given they have the home-ice advantage. Colorado is 15-9-5 at home this season.

Goaltending

With Philipp Grubauer out of the picture, it is expected that Pavel Francouz will take his place between the pipes for Colorado. Francouz has put together a spectacular season, earning a record of 13-5-3. He has a goals-against-average of 2.51 as well as a .922 save percentage.

Last Head-to-Head

These two teams last squared off earlier this year on January 6. In a highly competitive affair, it was actually the Islanders who came out on top, shutting out the Avalanche with a score of 1-0.

These two points are big for both teams. The playoff race is tight in both team’s divisions and every win matters at this point in the season.

With both riding losing streaks, a win could be that confidence boost to either team to perhaps start stringing a winning streak together. Another loss for either team could suck all the life out of the locker room. These two teams find themselves in the same spot within their respective divisions and conferences.

Questions to Answer

Which streak will come to an end? Both games are still well within the playoff picture but neither can afford their losing streak to continue any longer. Who will win and who will lose their fourth straight?

Will the Islanders defense be able to contain the Avs powerful offense? Likewise, will the offense of Colorado be able to create any quality scoring chances against a team as protective of their own end as the Isles?

As was the case in their last matchup, will this game come down to who was the better goaltender? Varlamov and Francouz are both top-tier netminders and it may just come down to one unlucky bounce to determine a winner.

New York Islanders Injury Report

F Cal Clutterbuck – DL (wrist)

F Casey Cizikas – DL (leg)

D Adam Pelech – DL (achilles)

Colorado Avalanche Injury Report

F Colin Wilson – DL (lower-body)

F Nazem Kadri – DL (lower-body)

F Matt Calvert – DL (lower-body)

G Philipp Grubauer – OUT (lower-body)

F Mikko Rantanen – DL (upper-body)

New York Islanders vs Colorado Avalanche Odds

The odds for NY Islanders vs Colorado Avalanche are provided by William Hill NJ, DraftKings Sportsbook, and 888Sport NJ.

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