New York Islanders: Best Against Worst at Barclays

It’s rivalry night for the New York Islanders as they welcome their city rivals, the New York Rangers to the Barclays Center as the East’s second best and worst go toe-to-toe.

With a point in last night’s game against the Washington Capitals, the Buffalo Sabres leapfrogged the New York Islanders into 15th in the Eastern Conference. It’s back to the basement for the Islanders.

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers sit loftily near the top of the East, and the league with an, unfortunately, enviable 35 points and a 17-8-1 record.

Unlike last season the two teams with New York in their names are completely dichotomic, where both are the exact opposite of the other. The Rangers can’t stop scoring and winning. While the Isles…well their at the bottom of the league for a reason.

More from NY Islanders News

• Islanders Third Period Meltdown in Minnesota Ends Point Streak
• Islanders vs. Wild: Zach Parise returns to Minnesota (lineup, odds, +)
• Islanders vs. Jets Three takeaways: Ilya Sorok(ing) is my name
• Islanders vs Jets: Isles significant underdog in Winnipeg (lines, odds, +)
• Islanders: Brock Nelson Nets 4 in Dominant Win Over Montreal

The Isles have five players currently in double-digit point totals. The Rangers have 14 players in the double-digits. Five of those have 15 points or more. Both Kevin hayes and J.T. Miller sit with as many points as John Tavares.

Money Line

New York Rangers -125/+105 New York Islanders (taken at 12:00pm)

All of this conspires in the money line being offered for tonight’s game. At the time of writing the Rangers are at a -125, they are clear favorites to win the game. But at +105 shows that Vegas isn’t writing off the isles just yet.

And why should they? The Islanders just went 3-1-0 in their last four beating two excellent hockey teams in the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. Who says they can’t do the same to the Rangers tonight?

New York Islanders Potential Lineup:

Bailey-Tavares-Nelson       Leddy-Hamonic
Ladd-Strome-Prince           Hickey-Boychuk
Kulemin-Quine-Chimera   de Haan-Seidenberg
Lee-Cizikas-Clutterbuck    Halak (Greiss)

New York Rangers Potential Lineup:

Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello    McDonagh-Girardi
Vesey-Hayes-Nash                 Staal-Holden
Puempel-Pirri-Hrivik              Skjei-Klein
Miller-Jooris-Fast                     Lundqvist (Raanta)

Next: Isles Place Kulemin on Trade Block

Where Can You Follow the Game:

Venue: 7pm, Barclays Center
TV: SN1, SNO, MSG+, MSG 2, NHL.TV
Radio: WRHU