Islanders vs Lightning Odds, Lines and NHL Best Bets for Monday November 15th

• The New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning meet on Monday, November 15th at 7 pm ET, in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Final
• Semyon Varlamov is projected to start against Andrei Vasilevskiy 
• Read below for odds, analysis, and betting pick

The New York Islanders travel out to Tampa Bay as the two NHL teams get reacquainted on Monday (November 15th). Puck drop is set for 7 PM ET at Bridgestone Arena and will be broadcast on Sportsnet, MSG+, and NHL Network.

New York is listed as a very slight +115 road underdog in the first Islanders vs Lightning meeting of this season.

Will the Tampa Bay Lightning hold serve once again or can New York find a way to steal this one on the road? Let’s take a look at the Islanders vs Lightning odds and find out.

Islanders vs Lightning Odds 

Odds as of November 14th at DraftKings.

Varlamov Expected to Start in Islanders vs Lightning Matchup

With Semyon Varlamov injured for the first month of the season, Ilya Sorokin stepped right in and delivered some amazing performances to keep the New York Islanders upright. Varlamov will give New York that same ability most nights.

Even with the defensive struggles, Ilya Sorokin and even Semyon Varlamov in his one appearance have the #Isles statistically where they have been over last few seasons regarding goals against.

They have allowed the 2nd fewest in #NHL, at 25.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) November 14, 2021

Varlamov is expected to make his second start of the season on Monday. His lone appearance so far was pretty solid as the Islanders lost a game the Russian should have won. The 33-year-old was a dark-horse contender in the Vezina Trophy Odds for last season, finishing fifth in voting.

Vasilevskiy Dominant Between the Pipes

During the first month, there has been a slight dip in the Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Odds.  This is a team that needed two big jolts last season to get past New York. One was provided by the surge of Andrei Vasilevskiy. The other was from the return of Nikita Kucherov. Ironically, Kucherov needed surgery and is out for several months.

Tampa Bay has started slowly alright in the early going with a 6-2-3 record. Vasilevskiy is 3-0-2 in his last five starts after a sluggish 3-2  beginning. The Russian goaltender has five straight quality starts and Tampa has points in seven straight games.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is a freak pic.twitter.com/JCy9gIuCzb

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) November 14, 2021

Are the Lightning likely to improve much more? That answer is no. They only go as far as Vasilevskiy

Updated Stanley Cup betting at @BetMGM

Line movement
• Avs +600 to +550
• Panthers +2500 to +850

Highest Ticket%
• Avs 21%
• Islanders 9%
• Panthers 6%

Highest Handle%
• Avs 26%
• Lightning 13%
• Islanders 12%

Biggest Liabilities
• Avs
• Islanders
• Red Wings

— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) November 4, 2021

Look at the Lightning handle when it comes to Stanley Cup odds. That speaks some volumes. If it was not for Vasilevskiy, New York might be a slight road favorite here.

Islanders vs Lightning Recent Results

Islanders vs Lightning Pick

Tampa Bay has all of the momentum heading into Monday night, which explains why 60% of the betting action is on the Lightning moneyline. Tampa has scored 39 goals and allowed 39 goals. Predicting what Tampa may or may not do here does not seem difficult given their point streak but New York can have an affect on teams.

For New York, the key will be to establish their strength and physical play. Setting the tone with their bottom and middle six is vital to help the skill of the top six.

As for Tampa Bay, they will need a top effort from Vasilevskiy. He tends to get better as he gets set in a rhythm. New York’s overall balance between skill, physicality, plus simple revenge turns this game slightly towards the Islanders’ favor.

Take New York getting plus money in the Islanders vs Lightning odds.

Pick: Islanders Moneyline (+115)