Islanders vs Predators Odds, Predictions and Picks

• The New York Islanders and Nashville Predators meet for the first time in more than 18 months Saturday, October 30th at 1:30pm ET
• Ilya Sorokin is projected to start against Juuse Saros in this East vs West meeting
• Read below for the NHL odds, game preview, and betting pick

The New York Islanders travel out to Nashville as the two NHL teams get reacquainted for a matinee. The game will be played on Saturday, October 30th (1:30pm ET) at Bridgestone Arena and will be broadcast on Sportsnet, MSG+, and NHL Network.

New York is listed as a very slight -115 road favorite in the NHL odds to win their fourth game of the season. Meanwhile, the Islanders vs Predators odds indicate Nashville as +1.5 at -255 on the NHL betting line.

Will the Nashville Predators get the win at home or can New York find a way to come out on top?

Islanders vs Predators Odds 

Odds as of October 29th at DraftKings

Ilya Sorokin Helps Islanders on the Moneyline

NHL odds and numbers shifted downward a bit when Semyon Varlamov started the season on the injury list. He is just now eligible to return and will likely need time and practice to get ready to play. Meanwhile, Ilya Sorokin has been playing extremely well which allowed Varlamov to heal gradually.

Ilya Sorokin currently leads the league in shots against, with a whopping 209

Sorokin played 55 minutes less, let in four less goals, has a better SV% by .20, and saved more than five more goals above expected than the runner-up #Isles

— Nicole Shirman (@nicolefshirman) October 29, 2021

The injury was more serious than originally expected. Few even believed that Varlamov would miss any regular-season time, but as of now, Varlamov will be approaching three weeks. Varlamov was a dark-horse contender in the Vezina Trophy Odds for this season.  In the early going, Sorokin has looked even better which is saying something.

Sorokin expects to get a few more starts before Varlamov can return. Even with the good news, that has not altered the NHL odds much at this juncture.

Nashville Predators Odds and Goaltender Analysis

In the early going, there has been a slight dip in the Nashville Predators Stanley Cup Odds.  This is a team that needed a huge second-half surge from Juuse Saros just to squeak into the playoffs. They would eventually be eliminated in six games by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Nashville has started slowly in the early going with just a 3-4-0 record. Worse, Saros began just as poorly but managed to begin to right things after a win versus San Jose earlier in the week. Aside from the Winnipeg game where he allowed six goals, Saros yielded just six goals combined in the other four games. In those four quality starts, Nashville went just 2-2.

Juuse Saros made 28 saves, and the Predators held off the Sharks for a 3-1 victory.

Timo Meier (goal) and Logan Couture (assist) each extended his season-opening point streak to six games for San Jose.https://t.co/fVyfEhY3CF

— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) October 27, 2021

Are the Predators likely to improve more? The Central can be a pretty tough division and they’ll only go as far as the goaltending of Saros will carry them.

Other trophies handle %:

Vezina
Igor Shesterkin 26.5%
Darcy Kuemper 22%
Juuse Saros 10.5%

Calder
Lucas Raymond 31.8%
Michael Bunting 18%
Mortiz Sieder 16%

Norris
Cale Makar 61.9%
Victor Hedman 10.5%
Charlie McAvoy 8%

— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) October 28, 2021

Look at his handle when it comes to the Vezina Trophy. That speaks some volumes. If it was not for Saros, New York would be a much stronger favorite.

 Islanders vs Predators Recent Results

Islanders vs Predators Pick and Prediction

Nashville has some momentum heading into Saturday afternoon, but NHL betting lines have 68% of the betting percentage on the New York Islanders so far moneyline-wise (New York is 47% on the PL). Nashville has scored 20 goals and allowed 20 goals. Gauging them can be difficult as the Predators’ offense has struggled at times scoring goals.

For New York, the key will be to establish their strength and physical play. Setting the tone with their bottom six is vital to help the skill of the top six. As for Nashville, they will need Juuse Saros to play well from the start. Saros tends to get better as games go on. New York’s overall balance between skill and physicality plus Ilya Sorokin turns this game slightly towards the Islanders’ favor.

Take the New York Islanders and the near-even moneyline Saturday afternoon.

Pick: Islanders Moneyline (-115)