Bruins vs Islanders Odds, Picks, and How to Watch
- The New York Islanders (15-6-4) host the Boston Bruins on March 9th at 7:00 PM EST on MSG+ 2
- The Islanders have won five straight games and have yet to lose in regulation on home ice this season
- Here are the odds, team previews, and the best value bet available
Two of the top teams in the East Division faceoff on Tuesday, March 9th, 2021 at 7 PM EST on MSG +2. Boston are short favorites in the Bruins vs Islanders odds. Semyon Varlamov and Jaroslav Halak will be going head-to-head in net for their respective teams.
The Boston Bruins travel to one of the NHL’s hardest places to play to take on the New York Islanders. Here are the odds and roster reports for both teams as well as the best value pick on the board.
Boston Bruins vs New York Islanders Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | -1.5 (+225) | -115 | O 5.5 (+116) |
| New York Islanders | +1.5 (-278) | -105 | U 5.5 (-141) |
Odds taken Mar. 8th at DraftKings
Islanders Own Best Home Record in NHL
The Islanders’ Stanley Cup odds aren’t reflective of how well they’ve played so far this year. They are the only team in the league that hasn’t lost in regulation on home ice with a 10-0-2 record.
Matthew Barzal is a top-tier forward up front, but this team wins their games with great goaltending and defensive play. They rank third in goals-against, third in shots against, and sixth on the penalty kill. The Islanders plainly, are pretty boring to watch, and that’s exactly how head coach Barry Trotz wants it. They limit the opposition’s scoring opportunities and capitalize just enough to rack up wins.
MAT BARZAL ARE YOU KIDDING WITH THIS GOAL
SORCERY pic.twitter.com/YdQ3QKc2IH
— Isles on MSG+ (@IslesMSGN) March 6, 2021
Semyon Varlamov is expected to start for New York. He owns an 11-4-3 record with a 2.10 GAA and .926 SV%. He’s only making $5 million for this season and two more, making him one of the league’s biggest bargains.
Considering the other top goalies make more than twice his salary, he has delivered above expectation much like a lot of the Islanders roster. Not to mention, Semyon Varlamov is making a serious case for the Vezina this year.
Bruins Top Line Continues to Drive the Bus
The game plan is simple when facing the Bruins – stop the top line and win the hockey game. The trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak have combined for 69 points in 59 games, making them one of the best lines in the league.
The issue is, Boston has only two other forwards with more than 10 points. The drop-off from their top unit to the rest of the lineup is as steep as any team in the league. Facing a defensive team like the Islanders could be problematic if they are able to limit the scoring chances of the top line.
We've been waiting for this one.
On the latest #BehindTheB, the #NHLBruins go all out with their '90s wardrobe at Lake Tahoe.
Watch the full episode ➡️ https://t.co/CtyUXXgqCn pic.twitter.com/smoalleGy3
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 8, 2021
The Bruins will start backup Jaroslav Halak against New York. He’s one of the best backups in the league has been for years. This season he’s sporting a 5-2-1 record with a 2.24 GAA and .913 SV%.
While Jaroslav Halak’s play has been solid, it’s still worth mentioning they aren’t fielding their best lineup with Tuukka Rask having the night off. They are also without Brandon Carlo, who is expected to miss a couple of weeks after taking a nasty hit from Capitals forward Tom Wilson.
Islanders Moneyline Provides Most Value
The Islanders are the best home team in the league right now, and they are listed as slight underdogs at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It’s a tough matchup, but the value makes it the correct play. Trust the defensive game plan from Trotz and the solid goaltending from Semyon Varlamov to get it done.
The Pick: New York Islanders Moneyline (-105)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
