New York Islanders vs Boston Bruins: Predictions and Odds

How to Watch

Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

When: Thursday, December 19th at 7:00 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): NBCSN. Boston TV/Radio: NBC Sports Boston, WBZ-FM 98.5. New York Islanders TV/Radio: SNY, ESPN NY 1050 AM.

Boston is just a few points behind Washington for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with 21 wins in their first 34 games.

The Bruins are 12-1-5 at home this season and have a plus-29 goal differential, the best in the NHL.

Boston’s odds are best in hockey at +300 to take the Eastern Conference and +600 to win the Stanley Cup.

The Islanders are one of the best teams in the East, totaling 46 points in their first 31 games.

New York is 9-5-1 away from home this year and are one of just six teams in the NHL to have a goal differential over 20.

The New York Islanders’ odds stand at +1000 to win the East and +2000 to win the Stanley Cup.

Varlamov has the hot hand for the Islanders, winning five straight appearances for New York, allowing two goals or less in each game.

The backup, Thomas Greiss, has lost two of his three December starts but has surrendered just seven goals over the three games, while saving 93.6% of all shots.
Varlamov has a 5-1-1 record in away starts, posing a stingy 1.70 GAA with a staggering 94.3% save percentage.
Varlamov is allowing just 2.24 GAA on the year with a 92.8% save percentage through his 16 starts and 18 appearances in 2019-20.

Rask has lost three straight starts for the Bruins, allowing 11 goals over the losing streak.

For the month of December, Rask has a 90.6% save percentage and won just one start, a 3-1 win over Montreal on the 1st of the month.
At home, Rask is 8-0-3 on the season with a 2.05 GAA and 93.1 save percentage.
Rask has not posted a shutout since October 26th but has held teams to one goal in three of his last eight starts.

The Islanders continue to play efficient road hockey this season, scoring 2.53 goals per road contest, while allowing just 2.40 goals on their opponents’ home ice.
New York is ranked 28th in the NHL is shots per road game this season, averaging just 27.9 shots. They are allowing 32.1 shots per road game.
The Islanders are scoring 3 goals a game in December, ranking them 10th in the NHL in scoring, while they are allowing just two per game.
Nick Leddy continues to nurse his lower-body injury but is uncertain to play this week for the Islanders.

Boston is one of the ten best scoring teams at home this season in the NHL, averaging 3.39 goals per contest against the 2.17 they are allowing. They own the best goal differential at home in the league.
Boston’s offensive attack has gone cold this month, scoring just 2.38 goals per contest over their eight games in December.
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are among the top five in the NHL in points scored.
Defensemen Kevan Miller underwent another surgery on his knee and remains out indefinitely on injury reserve.

New York has won four of their last five games, including their last two on the road.
The Islanders have outscored opponents 11-4 during their three-game winning streak.
Over the last five games, New York has allowed three goals just once during their recent successful run.

Boston stopped their season worst six-game losing streak with a win at Florida on Saturday night.
The Bruins have lost two straight at home, after winning five straight at TD Garden.
Over their five-game losing streak, Boston scored over two goals just once, in their 4-3 OT loss to Chicago to start the skid.