Islanders vs. Sharks: Betting odds, lineups, Bellows back in the NHL

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Thanks to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Islanders are feeling good about themselves. They can build on that with a date against the San Jose Sharks.

With a 4-1 win over the league-worst Detroit Red Wings, the New York Islanders welcome the 27th ranked San Jose Sharks to the Nassau Coliseum. Giving the Islanders a great chance to build on their last home win.

Eberle hat-trick gives Isles victory over Red Wings. Related Story

After scoring four goals – one on the power play – the Islanders have shown that they aren’t completely inept in front of goal. With a date against the Sharks, they get to establish some much needed positive momentum.

You also have to factor that the Sharks played just last night at Madison Square Garden. They won’t be weary from travel, but they still played less than 24 hours ago. If the Isles can go up a goal or two early, that should be enough to see them take the ‘W’.

The Season Series

These two teams last met in November as the Islanders traveled out for a three-day California road trip. That game ended 2-1 in overtime. It was the only point the Islanders would get on that road trip as their 17-game point streak came to an end.

Hopefully, the Islanders power play -which scored against the Red Wings on Friday – doesn’t go 0-for-6 today against the Sharks.

Tale of the Tape

Even though the Sharks are one of the five worst teams in the NHL with a 26-31-4 record but they still have enough quality in the lineup to punish the Islanders if they aren’t playing their best game.

Betting Odds

Thanks to the Action Network the New York Islanders are pretty heavy favorites for tonight’s game with the money line on an Isles win opening at -220. It’s shifted slightly to -190 at the time of writing.

I’m sure the Islanders will be buoyed by that 4-1 win over the Red Wings. It won’t be easy. But the Sharks played last night against the Rangers. They aren’t rested, while the Isles haven’t played since Friday.

120. 3. 106. Prediction. 2

Players to Watch

Kieffer Bellows

He’s back! Although he never truly went anywhere. After being sent down to the AHL on Friday, Bellow was actually watching the game from the press box rather than on his way back to Bridgeport. And now he’s been called back by the Islanders with Ladd going back down.

As Trotz said a few days ago when Bellows was sent down, he’s dried up a bit. And that’s certainly fair. He doesn’t have a point in his last five games and only recorded a single shot over his last three.

But to be fair, his last two games were in Arizona and Colorado where no Islanders player was playing particularly well. Against the Coyotes, Bellows played 3:40 of his 5on5 time with Matt Martin and Leo Komarov while against the Avalanche the rook bounced around the lineup.

Hopefully, tonight he can get some consistent offensive-minded line-mates where Bellow’s talents can be more adequately used.

I know every player has to learn the defensive side of the game in a Trotz system, but playing fourth-line minutes isn’t a recipe for success.

Jordan Eberle

Typically, I talk about one player per team, but I want to watch two players today. With a hat trick against the Red Wings, Eberle is bouncing back to life in the final stretch of the season.

With that hat-trick, Eberle now has four points in his last two games. The Islanders have been desperately waiting for Eberle to turn it on since he missed ten games at the start of the season due to injury. We’ve caught glimpses of him heating up, hopefully, this is the real deal, we’ll see tonight against the Sharks.

Potential Lineups

New York Islanders

#Isles Transactions: Andrew Ladd has been returned on loan to Bridgeport. Kieffer Bellows has been recalled from loan.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 23, 2020

Without a practice before tonight’s game, we don’t get a sense of what the lines might be. We won’t know till just before puck drop. Andrew Ladd is back in the AHL after a single-game cameo appearance and Kieffer Bellows is called back up. Does he step into Ladd’s role on L3? It’s likely.

Why else call Bellows back up if they aren’t going to play him?

Ladd looked fine in his first competitive game in a while, but its clear he’s still not ready to return to the NHL full time. Bellows, on the other hand, is ready and hungry. He can step in and give that third line a real shot in the arm, again.

Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Dal Colle
Bellows-Bailey-Kuhnhackl
Martin-Koivula-Komarov

Greene-Pulock
Toews-Mayfield
Leddy-Boychuk

Varlamov (Greiss)

This is how I think Barry Trotz will set the lines for today’s game. Ideally, I’d play Bellows in the top six, but I know that Trotz is apprehensive when it comes to playing rookies. They have to do a lot to earn his trust and I don’t feel like Bellows has earned that yet.

San Jose Sharks

Meier-Thornton-Gambrell
Kane-Goodrow-Labanc
Marleau-Kellman-Noesen
Sorensen-True-Gregor

Simek-Burns
Vlasic-Ferraro
Middleton-Heed

Jones (Dell)

My how things have turned for the San Jose Sharks. They were supposed to have a championship-caliber roster. They weren’t supposed to be near the bottom of the league. But with injuries piling up and the failure to address goaltending here they are.

Just look at that roster. Hopefully, the Islanders can take full advantage of this weakened team to get another two points on the board.

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Where to Catch the Game:

TV: MSG+, MSG GO

Radio: 88.7FM, 98.7FM, 103.9FM

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