Islanders vs. Senators: Betting odds, lineups, Isles could win tenth in streak

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Scott Mayfield #24 of the New York Islanders lands a punch on Ben Harpur #67 of the Ottawa Senators at the end of the third period at the Barclays Center on December 28, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The islanders defeated the Senators 6-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Scott Mayfield #24 of the New York Islanders lands a punch on Ben Harpur #67 of the Ottawa Senators at the end of the third period at the Barclays Center on December 28, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The islanders defeated the Senators 6-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

With the Ottawa Senators coming to Brooklyn, the New York Islanders have a good chance at ten wins from ten games and the second-longest winning streak in team history.

I know the Islanders will say that they aren’t paying attention to the narrative around the wining streak. They know they’re winning, but as true professional athletes, their only focus is the game in front of them.

I’m not a professional athlete so I can. With a win against the Ottawa Senators at the Barclays Center, the New York Islanders could pick up win number ten. That would make this streak the second-longest in franchise history. The longest streak was 15 games in 1981-82.

The Islanders have a good chance here. The Senators aren’t a great team. With a 4-8-1 record, they’re tied with Detroit, San Jose, and Minnesota as the worst team in the NHL.

The Senators also played last night against the Rangers in a 6-2 win. They won’t have far to travel for the next game, if at all, but the Islanders will come into the game rested thanks to a two-day break between games.

The venue change might feel like an issue, but the Islanders have played well in Brooklyn. In 144 games played at the Barclays Center, the Islanders hold a 78-48-18 record. That’s a 0.604 points percentage.

It’s hockey, so anything can happen. But the Islanders are in the best possible position to win their tenth in a row. If they play a full 60 minutes, they forecheck well, and capitalize on their chances, they should come away with a win, again.

Islanders Betting Odds and Lines

The Islanders are easily the favorites in this game. Not only are they at home, but they’re playing a weaker team who’s in the second leg of a back-to-back. Courtesy of The Action Network, the money line on the Islanders winning is set (at the time of writing of course) -280.

Weather Forecast

It’s going to be a nice 57 degrees come puck drop in Brooklyn. It’s expected to drop to 54 once the game is over. I would love that kind of weather up here in Canada.

From where I’m writing it’ll be 39 degrees when the puck is dropped with the mercury expected to fall to just above freezing by the end of the game.

Projected Lines

New York Islanders

Lee-Barzal-Bailey
Beauvillier-Nelson-Brassard
Dal Colle-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Johnston-Bardreau-Wahlstrom
Pelech-Pulock
Toews-Mayfield
Dobson-Boychuk
Greiss (Varlamov)

Expect to see Ross Johnston out there early to try and police this pesky Senators side. The Islanders haven’t soon forgotten how the Sens, particularly Brady Tkachuk, tried to get the Isles to fight while sitting with a short bench.

Ottawa Senators

Tkachuk-Pageau-Duclair
Namestnikov-Tierney-Brown
Ennis-Anisimov-Ryan
Paul-Beaudin-Boedker
Chabot-Zaitsev
Goloubef-Hainsey
Borowiecki-DeMelo
Anderson (Nilsson)

Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been electric for the Senators lately. The Ottawa-area native has three points in his last two games and nine over his last 13.

How to Watch

In-person: Tickets are cheap. If you can, head to the game and use our StubHub link, tickets can be had for as low as $6. Again, if you can make it, it won’t cost you much to perhaps see the Isles win ten in a row for the first time since 1982.

TV: MSG+, MSG Go