Islanders vs. Stars Odds
| Islanders Odds | +140 |
| Stars Odds | -165 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -110o / -110u |
Here's everything you need to know about the New York Islanders vs Dallas Stars on Monday, February 26 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
The Under has been a profitable bet when these two teams have squared off over the past couple of seasons, with five or fewer total goals scored in three of the past four meetings. Will we see another low-scoring affair? Or will the goals pick up this time around?
Let's dig into the odds and make an Islanders vs. Stars prediction in my NHL betting preview.
New York Islanders
Goaltender Ilya Sorokin is slated to guard the cage for New York in this contest and should be a good candidate to back. Once again putting together a tremendous season, Sorokin boasts a .908 SV% and 3.14 GAA through 41 appearances in the crease.
That success is likely to continue against Dallas, a team he is 1-0-1 against in his career with a commanding .957 SV% and 1.43 GAA. There were five or fewer total goals scored in each of those two outings.
Sorokin is getting some help this year, considering the blue line is doing a good job at preventing high-danger scoring chances. At 5-on-5, the Islanders rank in the top half of the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
However, that is as far as Sorokin's help goes. Entering this matchup, New York ranks 18th or lower in goals scored per game, shots on goal per game and shooting percentage.
Dallas Stars
That poor offense is likely to continue against the Stars, a team that ranks in the top half of the league in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game, penalty-kill percentage and penalty minutes taken per game. Their underlying metrics are among the league's best, ranking fourth in xGA/60 at 5-on-5.
Backing up this efficient defense is goaltender Jake Oettinger, who enters this game in great form. Oettinger has now allowed two or fewer goals in five of his past eight starts, posting a 5-1-2 record with a .914 SV% and 2.49 GAA over that stretch.
With this tremendous goaltending and blue line play, there have now been five or fewer total goals scored in each of Dallas' past three games.
Like Sorokin, Oettinger's track record against Monday night's opponent is tremendous. Through four career starts against the Islanders, he is 3-1 with a .922 SV% and 1.97 GAA.
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Islanders vs. Stars
Betting Pick & Prediction
There's a lot to like for the Under in this contest. First, a Sorokin-Oettinger goaltending matchup bodes well for a low-scoring affair, considering that they have only squared off against each other once and the final score was 2-1.
Meanwhile, New York's below-average offense is unlikely to generate many high-danger scoring chances against this efficient Dallas blue line. At the same time, the Islanders also rank in the top half of the league in xGA/60 at 5-on-5.
We are catching a particularly good price of +102 on the Under 6 at DraftKings, a price that is longer than the rest of the market.
Pick: Under 6 (+102 at DraftKings | Play to -105)
