New York Islanders vs Detroit Red Wings: Predictions and Odds

Where: Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI.

When: Monday, December 2, 7:30PM EST

How (TV/Radio): Fox Sports Detroit, MS+2| WFAN

New York Islanders (Away)

Head Coach: Barry Trotz{All-Time 827-600-60-143 NYI, WSH, NSH}

The most defensively successful teams in the NHL, the Islanders sit fifth-overall in the league with 35 points on the season.

They are coming off of a shutout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Offense

After a brief, uncharacteristic losing streak, the New York Islanders have bounced back with a confidence-building shutout win over division rivals the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Known more for their defensive style of play, opposing teams shouldn’t be fooled, as this is a very formidable team.

Their power play ranks well above Detroits at 18th in the league and their shooting percentage ranks in the top-ten at 10.1 percent (Detroit ranks last).

With that said, the Isles are at the disadvantage when it comes to shots on goal per game (but not by much) and in faceoff percentage, where both teams rank below 50 percent.

Defense

In simple terms, the Islanders just absolutely outclass the Red Wings here.

The Isles have allowed the fewest goals against this season at only 58.

The Red Wings have allowed 115. Let that sink in. The Islanders have also allowed the fewest shots against – 200 shots less than Detroit has allowed.

They have the fourth-best combined save percentage in the NHL as well, sitting at .922.

Their penalty ranks 11th in the league as well, sitting with an 83.58 percent success rate on the kill.

The defense of this team is all but impenetrable.

Goaltending

Semyon Varlamov is expected to be in the crease for the Islanders when they take on the Red Wings.

This season, Varlamov has gone 7-3-2 and has registered a goals-against-average of 2.50 and a .918 save percentage. He has one shutout.

Head Coach: Jeff Blashill{All-Time 143-164-50 DET}

The Detroit Red Wings are ranked in the last place in the NHL and their stats show it.

They now also find themselves as one of the most weakened teams in the league as key players such as defenseman Trevor Daley and goaltender Jimmy Howard are out with injury.

Offense

This team is going to be lucky to score on the New York Islanders. Plain and simple.

Detroit in the lowest-scoring team in the league with just 62 combined goals this season – only 48 of them at even strength.

Their shooting percentage is last in the league with a 7.3 percent and their power play in the bottom-five of the league at 13.64 percent.

Their advantage comes in the shot department as the Red Wings have 150+ shots more than the Islanders this season.

With that said, though, they have yet to play a team as defensively solid as New York this season.

Defense

The Detroit Red Wings, although they have the potential of outshooting New York, have allowed the most shots against this season at 949.

The team’s combined save percentage also sits last in the league at only .880.

They also can’t seem to kill any penalties, as their penalty killing percent of 72.22 ranks, yes, last in the league.

We hate to be so forthcoming, but this game is all but unwinnable for Detroit. If you’re a risk-taker, here’s your game for the week.

Goaltending

With Jimmy Howard out with injury, Jonathan Bernier is expected to start Monday nights game for Detroit.

Bernier has a season record of 5-7-2, a GAA of 3.30, and a save percentage of .894.

These two teams have yet to face each other this season.

They last played against each other on March 16.

It was the Red Wings that came out victorious, beating the Islanders with a final score of 2-1.

Essentially nothing. The New York Islanders are the more efficient and dominant team.

Even if the Red Wings were to pull off the win (any team can win on any given day), it will not matter much in the long run of the season that is only a quarter of the way through.

This game should just prove to be another example of what makes the Isles a team to watch this season as a potential Stanley Cup contender.

Questions to Answer

Red Wings goalie Jonathan Bernier is having a hard time this season, to say the least.

Can he keep his composure against such a strong team or will this be the game in which New York’s offense finally explodes?

Can the weakend roster of Detroit even remotely stack up against the Isles?

The Red Wings have suffered through so many injuries already this season, it’s tough to envision them even scoring a goal, let alone winning this game.

Detroit is 4-9-1 with the home ice ADVANTAGE!

New York is 6-3-1 on the road. Which team should we consider having the hometown advantage in this game?

New York Islanders Injury Report

G Thomas Greiss – day-to-day (undisclosed)

F Tom Kuhnhacki – DL (lower-body)

Detroit Red Wings Injury Report

D Trevor Daley – DL (undisclosed)

F Justin Abdelkader – DL (undisclosed)

F Johan Franzen – DL (concussion)

G Jimmy Howard – DL (lower-body)

D Danny DeKeyser – DL (undisclosed)

F Anthony Mantha – DL (lower-body)

New York Islanders vs Detroit Red Wings – Game Odds

The latest odds for the Islanders vs Red Wings game are provided by bet365 NJ, DraftKings Sportsbook, and SugarHouse.

Good luck!

Moneyline