Fansided

Islanders vs. Maple Leafs: Betting odds, lines, Can Mathew Barzal dominate again?

By Michel Anderson |
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 13: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders celebrates his first period goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on November 13, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 13: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders celebrates his first period goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on November 13, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: Mathew Barzal #13 and Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrate a power-play goal by Anthony Beauvillier #18 against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on November 13, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: Mathew Barzal #13 and Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrate a power-play goal by Anthony Beauvillier #18 against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on November 13, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The New York Islanders head North to face off against John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can the Isles keep up their dominance over the Leafs?

Since John Tavares joined the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Islanders hold a 3-1-0 record against them. It’s been about as one-sided as possible.

The two teams already faced each other this season. They met earlier in November, with the game finishing in a 5-4 regulation win for the Isles. But since that meeting, both teams have gone under some changes.

The Islanders incredible point-streak is over and they’ve shown their defense isn’t always infallible with a few poor performances of late.

For the Leafs, they have a new bench boss who has them purring. Since being hired Sheldon Keefe has the Leafs in a playoff spot thanks to a 14-4-1 record.

Yet another win away from home against a good team who are in a good run of form of late is exactly what the Islanders need to forget some of their poor home performances of late.

Tale of the Tape

Betting odds

The Leafs are heavy favorites tonight with a -150 Moneyline courtesy of the Action Network. They’re at home. They’re 8-1-1 over their last ten games. They’re 10-4-5 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Islanders are the road team with a 5-4-1 record over their last ten.

But, the Islanders have been a good road team of late. Over their last six road games, they’ve gone 5-1-0 beating the Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning. With a +135 Moneyline, the Isles make a compelling case to bet on the underdog and make some good money.

TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 29: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 29: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Players to Watch

New York Islanders. . Mathew Barzal. C.

The last time the New York Islanders were in Toronto to play the Maple Leafs, Mathew Barzal dominated proceedings. In less than eight minutes of the second frame, Barzal put up three unanswered goals. It was an absolutely dominant performance from the Islanders youngster.

Can he do it again?

Barzal seems to love the spotlight. The light doesn’t get any brighter than in Toronto, playing against his former captain. You know he’d love to. With Anthony Beauvillier next to him int he lineup, perhaps the two can rekindle that form they had in the latter half of the 2017-18 season where they torched the league?

John Tavares. C. . Toronto Maple Leafs.

All eyes will be on John Tavares as he welcomes the team he used to captain, to the team he now captains.

Tavares doesn’t seem to “get up” for the occasion against his former team. In four games against the Islanders as a member of the Maple Leafs, Tavares has four points while his team has gone 1-3-0 and been outscored 16-7.

Can he step up now with his hometown pulling for him, or will he wilt under the immense pressure of the night? Again, all eyes will be on John Tavares.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 27: Michael Hutchinson #30 of the Toronto Maple Leafs sticks aside a second period shot against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 27, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 27: Michael Hutchinson #30 of the Toronto Maple Leafs sticks aside a second period shot against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 27, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Lineups

New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal will center Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey tonight. That could bode well. Anders Lee is a fine player but he doesn’t have the skating ability to keep up with Barzal. Anthony Beauvillier is just a better fit.

Michael Dal Colle gets a start with Ross Johnston hitting the scratchpad. We’ll see if scratching him can have the same effect it did on Kieffer Bellows at the AHL level. (I doubt it will.) At the very least, I hope Dal Colle can provide the Islanders with something against the Maple Leafs.

With Adam Pelehch out for the season, Noah Dobson steps in Nick Leddy‘s spot next to Johnny Boychuk. Leddy will move up to the top pair to play with Ryan Pulock.

In nets, Semyon Varlamov will get his fourth start in a row. With a 0.940SV% over his last three starts, he’s deserved to keep the crease and for Thomas Greiss to wait out at least one more game.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Islanders won’t have to face Frederick Andersen and his 2.67GAA and 0.916SV%. Instead, Michael Hutchinson and his 4.03GAA and 0.883SV% will get the start in Toronto.

Typically, playing a backup is a good thing. But for the New York Islanders, they more-often-than-not make backups look like Vezina candidates. So I’m not getting too hyped about facing the weaker of the two Maple Leafs goalies tonight.

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