NY Islanders at Florida NHL Playoffs Betting Pick

On Thursday night, the Florida Panthers will host the New York Islanders in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Panthers took two of the three meetings between the two teams in the season, outscoring New York 9-6. The Islanders dominated the shooting, though, putting 148 pucks on goal as opposed to the Panthers’ 105. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for more NHL Playoffs betting odds by clicking here.

Atlantic Division Champion #FlaPanthers to Meet @NYIslanders in Round 1. Schedule >> https://t.co/xqDS1wYncN pic.twitter.com/H0d79aeSIm

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 11, 2016

NY Islanders at Florida NHL Playoffs Betting Pick & TV Info

When: Thursday, April 14, 2016, 8:00pm ET Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL TV: CNBC, Sportsnet Radio: Florida / New York Live Stream: NHL.tv NHL Odds: TBA

Why Should You Bet on the Islanders?

Few NHL teams hit harder than the Islanders, and their fourth line (Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck) takes chunks out of opposing scorers. However, they are a disciplined squad, taking only a few penalties and managing the penalty kill efficiency. The fact that the Panthers score 2.75 goals per game but take fewer than average shots suggests that if a team can get some stops, they can put a keibosh on Florida’s offensive momentum. They also were one of just two of the playoff teams who have a negative goal differential in the third period, and in overtime contests they just went 1-6.

Why Should You Put Your Money on Florida?

When the Panthers are on offensively, there are few teams that can hang with them. In their season opener, they poured in four goals in the first seven minutes. When opponents turn the puck over, the Panthers can cash in quickly. They put together a 12-game winning streak this season, and they also beat Chicago, Tampa Bay, Washington and Detroit as part of a five- game stretch in that streak. With Roberto Luongo playing at his best in goal, the Panthers have a chance to go deep into the East bracket.

Expert Betting Pick and Final Score Prediction

I like the physical Islanders to impose their will on the Panthers and come out with a 2-1 victory. New York will come out and set a tone that the Panthers will struggle to overcome.