Best Bet: Over 93.5 Total Points (-115)
Worst Bet: Islanders to Win Stanley Cup (+4000)
The New York Islanders may have been one of the biggest surprises from last season as they had a very strong performance in the regular season in route to a second-place finish in the division. The Hurricanes may have been the real surprise in the Eastern Conference, but the Islanders made a big jump in 2018-19. New York ended up with 103 points last season just one point shy of the division title that was won by the Washington Capitals. The Islanders shocked many by sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round before being swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. The Islanders returned to the playoffs for the first time in two seasons after missing in both the 2016-17 season and the 2017-18 season.
Anders Lee led the charge for the Islanders in scoring last season as he was able to find the back of the net 28 times. Matthew Barzal was the assist and points leader for this team in 2018-19 as he finished with 44 assists and 62 points also pitching in 18 goals. In all the Islanders had eight skaters finish in double-digit goals. Robin Lehner led the charge in the net for New York en route to a 25 win season.
The Islanders made some noise by sweeping the Penguins in the first round of the NHL Playoffs, the teams’ first series sweep since 1983. Their strong season and momentum came slamming to a halt in the second round as they were swept by the red hot Carolina Hurricanes, who were able to catch fire at the right time en route to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The Islanders seemed to only be missing a few pieces. They lost some key members in the offseason including goalie Robin Lehner who heads to Chicago, while Valtteri Filppula returns to Detroit. The Islanders added goalie Semyon Varlamov and forward Cole Bardreau. The biggest piece that the Islanders needed to return did as Anders Lee returns on a seven-year contract. Simon Holmstrom the Islanders first-rounder in the NHL Entry Draft looks as he could battle for an early shot with the team. Barring a big drop off the Islanders look to be in the right situation to make a return to the playoffs in 2019-20.
Islanders Season Points Total: O/U 93.5 Total Points
Oddsmakers have the Islanders at an over-under of 93.5 Total Points. The Islanders finished with 103 points last season and a record of 48-27-7. It also marked the highest finish for New York Islanders since the 2001-02 season when they also finished second in their division. Their 103 points were their highest total in the last four years as they hadn’t had a 100-point season since 2015-16. There was a 23 point increase for the Islanders from the 2017-18 season to last season. The team also went from 35 wins in 2017-18 to 48 wins in 2018-19.
This team was able to finish second in the Metropolitan Division last season, but their goal total would make you think they weren’t very strong with only 228 goals scored. But of the eight teams in the division, the Islanders had the best defense giving up less than 200 goals last season with 196 goals against. The Islanders performed very well against the Penguins last season going 2-1 in the regular season before sweeping Pittsburgh in the playoffs. The Penguins and Capitals should be the top two teams in this division to start the year, but the Islanders proved better than Pittsburgh last season and could see that replicated in 2019-20. Islanders finishing with over 93.5 total points is a good play.
Odds to Win the Metropolitan Division: +700
The Capitals sit atop the odds list for the Metropolitan and there is no reason they shouldn’t be having won the last four division crowns. The Islanders were able to finish second last season in this division, and if they can replicate that, they should have a good shot at dethroning the Capitals. They finished just a lone point behind Washington in the division in 2018-19 as the Capitals finished with 104 points and the Islanders had 103. New York had Pittsburgh number, but the Carolina Hurricanes shocked everybody by being the lone team to survive from the Metropolitan and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Don’t be shocked if Carolina and New York push the Washington and Pittsburgh vise grip on this division.
It was a second-place finish in 2018-19, and the Islanders should be right in contention in the Metro once again this season. Like Carolina, don’t sleep on the Islanders.
Odds to Win Eastern Conference: +2000
The New York Islanders haven’t reached the conference finals since the 1992-93 season, and the furthest the team has gotten since then is the second round in both the 2015-16 and 2018-19 seasons. The Islanders have won six conference championships in NHL History, but haven’t reached that glory since 1984. New York has had a strong history of making it to the playoffs, but they haven’t had the luck of other former Stanley Cup Champions have had in recent years. The Islander should have a really good shot at returning to the playoffs, and likewise, have a fair shot at the division crown, but I don’t have the confidence in them winning the Eastern Conference. They might be able to reach the Eastern Finals, but I don’t like them to win it, avoid the Islanders here, they might have some value, but it’s going to be tough.
Odds to Win Stanley Cup: +4000
New York has six Stanley Cup Finals appearances, and four cups in team history. However none in the last three decades. New York won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980-1983. Since then they only have one other Stanley Cup appearance, where they came up short in 1984. The Islanders’ last two playoff births both resulted in exits in the second round, so until they can get over that hump, this team isn’t going to be worth backing to hoist the Stanley Cup. They have a better shot at it then rival the New York Rangers, but the Islanders are still too many pieces away from that level. Avoid the Islanders here.
