Sunday's best NHL bets
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders (+130, 5.5)
The Senators are still riding the momentum of their biggest win of the season, out-gunning the powerful Washington Capitals 6-5 at home Thursday night.
While Ottawa managed to keep the Caps at bay in that contest, goaltender Brian Elliott gave up a few soft goals that allowed Washington to get back into the game.
Elliott turned away 19 shots for his 21st win of the year, but revealed a chink in his armor as the Capitals scored just about every time they went high on the young goalkeeper.
New York falls short in the firepower department when compared to Washington. In fact, the Isles have been an under bettor?s dream in recent weeks. They?re averaging just 1.6 goals per game in their past 10 contests and have scored one goal or fewer in half of those outings.
However, New York has pushed the Senators to the limit in their two meetings this season, losing both games 3-2 in additional frames. With Ottawa away from Scotiabank Place and coming off a tough game against Detroit Saturday, the Islanders are in a prime spot to cool off one of the NHL?s hottest teams.
Pick: New York
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers
Friday?s 3-2 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins came at a cost for the New York Rangers.
They watched leading scorer Marian Gaborik leave the ice after playing just four minutes. Gaborik was nursing a cut on his right finger following a collision with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in practice earlier in the week.
The Rangers also lost defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who ran into Penguins star forward Evgeni Malkin along the boards and fell on a skate. The team told reporters Del Zotto suffered a ?significant laceration? on his abdomen.
"I tried not to look at it. Apparently it was pretty gross," Del Zotto told the New York Daily News. "I saw the gauze after; it was a lot of gauze, a lot of blood. I just tried not to look. "
A shorthanded New York squad faces a Tampa Bay team that had its four-game winning streak snapped Thursday and is coming off a game against the Islanders Saturday. The Lightning has won seven of its last 10 games heading into the weekend.
Pick: Tampa Bay
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders (+130, 5.5)
The Senators are still riding the momentum of their biggest win of the season, out-gunning the powerful Washington Capitals 6-5 at home Thursday night.
While Ottawa managed to keep the Caps at bay in that contest, goaltender Brian Elliott gave up a few soft goals that allowed Washington to get back into the game.
Elliott turned away 19 shots for his 21st win of the year, but revealed a chink in his armor as the Capitals scored just about every time they went high on the young goalkeeper.
New York falls short in the firepower department when compared to Washington. In fact, the Isles have been an under bettor?s dream in recent weeks. They?re averaging just 1.6 goals per game in their past 10 contests and have scored one goal or fewer in half of those outings.
However, New York has pushed the Senators to the limit in their two meetings this season, losing both games 3-2 in additional frames. With Ottawa away from Scotiabank Place and coming off a tough game against Detroit Saturday, the Islanders are in a prime spot to cool off one of the NHL?s hottest teams.
Pick: New York
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers
Friday?s 3-2 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins came at a cost for the New York Rangers.
They watched leading scorer Marian Gaborik leave the ice after playing just four minutes. Gaborik was nursing a cut on his right finger following a collision with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in practice earlier in the week.
The Rangers also lost defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who ran into Penguins star forward Evgeni Malkin along the boards and fell on a skate. The team told reporters Del Zotto suffered a ?significant laceration? on his abdomen.
"I tried not to look at it. Apparently it was pretty gross," Del Zotto told the New York Daily News. "I saw the gauze after; it was a lot of gauze, a lot of blood. I just tried not to look. "
A shorthanded New York squad faces a Tampa Bay team that had its four-game winning streak snapped Thursday and is coming off a game against the Islanders Saturday. The Lightning has won seven of its last 10 games heading into the weekend.
Pick: Tampa Bay
