Mar 8, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) celebrates with middle Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) after scoring a aim towards the San Jose Sharks through the third interval at SAP Heart at San Jose. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Edwards-Imagn Photographs The insanity could be out in full pressure at this time, however that doesn’t imply all the opposite sports activities should be uncared for — particularly from a betting standpoint!
Sure, loads of playing alternatives nonetheless exist outdoors of the NCAA basketball match. Even on the pitch, the place World Cup qualifying matchups are being performed all through the world. (Hopefully you caught my Libya-Angola underneath wager earlier, by the way in which.)
However we’re going to stay with the professionals on the hardwood and on the ice so far as tonight goes. First, we have now a vital Jap Convention affair to be performed between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders that may have big implications on the postseason image.
Because it stands, Montreal is in possession of the second and ultimate wild-card playoff berth with 73 factors. The Islanders are one of many groups carefully behind them, carrying 70 factors, so that is considerably of a must-win sport for the Lengthy Island residents with solely valuable time remaining within the marketing campaign.
To New York’s credit score, they’ve hung in there since jettisoning longtime franchise stalwart Brock Nelson earlier this month and are coming off spectacular back-to-back victories, together with one towards the second-best staff within the East, the Florida Panthers.
The frequent denominator in all their video games since Nelson was traded is that they’ve all been low scoring. Actually, all six of these contests featured ultimate scores that added as much as not more than six whole objectives.
Such a bent may proceed additional with the Islanders just lately dropping Mathew Barzal to damage and now certainly one of their greatest offensive defensemen, Alexander Romanov, out on account of an sickness.
Tonight’s excessive stakes additionally level to a tightly performed encounter, which is usually a contributing trait to an underneath. It definitely additionally helps that the Isles are final as is within the convention in objectives scored, with 2.7 per sport.
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The Canadiens can definitely put the puck within the web, being one of many 13 groups this yr that’s manufacturing not less than three objectives on common. The duo of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the membership’s No. 1 line is about as harmful as any. Nevertheless, they’re about to tangle with among the finest goaltenders within the NHL in Ilya Sorokin.
Not solely is Sorokin within the higher echelon at his place, he’s additionally somebody that’s given this opponent matches. In six profession conferences with Montreal, he’s 4-0-2 with a glowing 1.47 goals-against common and .949 save share.
The 29-year-old Russian native is having fun with one other good yr between the pipes and is amid certainly one of his greatest months of the season. For March, Sorokin is 5-2-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .915 save share whereas going through almost 30 photographs per sport.
He’ll probably face much less motion on this evening, because the Habs register fewer photographs per sport (25.9) than anybody else within the Jap Convention.
Once more, let’s reiterate the tightness wherein this matchup can be constructed. Samuel Montembeault ought to do his half as nicely and assist maintain the scoring to a minimal.
Contemplating the overall is universally 5.5 all over the place, I’m tacking on an educational NBA prop (just like Saturday) with the intention to seize an additional aim whereas preserving the chances low.
That prop comes within the Raptors-Warriors contest from the late-night slate and would require each Stephen Curry and Scottie Barnes to churn out over 9.5 factors. A easy further leg, proper?
Decide: Canadiens-Islanders Underneath 6.5, Barnes/Curry each Over 9.5 factors (-125, DraftKings)
NHL betting report: 36-31-3, -2.26 items
Over/unders: 21-22-3
Goalie props: 15-9
Every wager graded as if it have been to win one unit until in any other case said.
Comply with me @MattZylbert on Twitter/X for doubtlessly extra picks added there.
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