Islanders vs Bruins Game 3 Odds, Picks and How to Watch – Boston Favored On the Road

• The Boston Bruins are -134 road favorites to win Game 3 of their East Division final series over the New York Islanders on Thursday, June 3rd
• New York won Game 2 in overtime to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1
• Boston is 0-4 straight up in its last four games on Long Island – see below for our betting prediction

The numbers and the trends point toward the New York Islanders. Yet it’s the Boston Bruins who are favored on the road in Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup East Division final on Wednesday.

New York has won four straight home games over the Bruins. As well, the 4-3 Game 2 overtime win by the Isles ended Boston’s four-game winning streak against the Islanders.
Nonetheless, it’s the Bruins who will take the ice in Long Island for Game 3 as the -134 away favorites. The Isles are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games.

 Bruins vs Islanders Game 3 Odds

Odds as of June 2nd
The puck is slated to drop at 7:30pm ET on Wednesday at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. NBCSN will be carrying the broadcast.

They’re Going Streaking

The past 11 games prior to Game 2 between these two teams have seen various streaks assembled. Prior to Boston’s four-game run, the Islanders were winners of five in a row. The Bruins won two straight before that.

A 3-2 shootout win by the Islanders on December 19th, 2019 was preceded by an additional 14 games where one of these two teams won at least two in a row. So in the past 28 Isles-Boston games, there’s only been one occasion when the winning team changed in three successive games.

Islanders vs Bruins Series Odds

Injury Updates

Bruins right-winger Craig Smith (lower-body injury) looks to be good to go for Game 3. Smith was skating in his normal second line spot during Wednesday’s practice. He was also taking reps on the second power play unit.

Smith missed Game 2 following a leg-on-leg collision with Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck in Game 1. Karson Kuhlman figures to be the odd man out to make room for Smith’s return.

🎥 Coach Cassidy on Craig Smith returning to practice: "He looks a lot better, that's a good development for us. We weren't sure, to be honest with you. But he made it through the entire practice…that's a positive." pic.twitter.com/4zaz6yIWlk

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 2, 2021

While defensemen Kevan Miller (upper body) and Jakub Zboril (upper body) are getting closer to being game ready, neither is expected to be part of the Game 3 lineup. Miller has missed three games. Zboril has missed the entire postseason.

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is dealing with a nagging undisclosed ailment, but will get the start in Game 3.

All indications from Islanders coach Barry Trotz are that he’ll go with the same lineup for Game 3. That would mean forward Oliver Wahlstrom (undisclosed) will miss his fourth straight game. Wahlstrom didn’t skate with the Isles regulars on Wednesday.

Perfection Personified

A not unfamiliar refrain is being uttered where the Bruins are concerned. Control the Perfection Line and a team can overcome Boston.

Movin' on up.

With six points so far this postseason, @Bmarch63 has passed Rick Middleton and Johnny Bucyk into sole possession of fifth place on the B's all-time playoff scoring list. pic.twitter.com/kXXxna4w8E

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 2, 2021

In Boston’s 5-2 Game 1 victory, the unit of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand combined for three goals and six points. In Game 2, they were limited to two goals and four points. However, those two goals erased a two-goal Islanders lead.

The Bruins are 4-1 in the playoffs when that unit scores at least 50% of the Boston goals. They are 1-1 when they don’t.

Trendspotting

The Game 2 overtime winner by Islanders forward Casey Cizikas was his first goal since April 1st and his first playoff goal since 2015. New York is 6-1 straight up in the playoffs at the Nassau Coliseum under Trotz.

The Islanders are 2-0 in playoff series against the Bruins. They won the Stanley Cup both years, in 1980 and 1983.

Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk was fined $5,000 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Isles defenseman Scott Mayfield in the first period of Game 2.

All-Star and elite winger Josh Bailey has 43 points in 58 career playoff games including 32 points in his last 36 dating back to '18-'19 when Barry Trotz took over

— Buddy (@BuddyPeck) May 27, 2021

With four goals, Islanders forward Josh Bailey has already tied his career playoff best. The Islanders lost Game 3 of their first-round series at home to the Penguins after earning a split in the first two games at Pittsburgh.

Forward Kyle Palmieri has more points in eight playoff games (five) than he had in 17 regular-season games for the Isles (four).

New York goalie Semyon Varlamov is 6-1 against the Bruins this season.

• Pick: New York Islanders (+116)