🏒 Penguins vs. Islanders Prediction & Odds: NHL Picks Today (March 30)
With less than 10 games remaining in the regular season, and things tight in the Metropolitan Division, the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders can't afford to slip up much down the stretch. But one team is going to take the L tonight when they meet at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., at 7 p.m. ET.
My Penguins vs. Islanders prediction looks at whether the visitors can correct their recent struggles or if they'll open the door for the Blue Jackets or Flyers to supplant them in the playoff race. I've also lined up my favorite player prop for the night, as I highlight a star on the Isles who I like to light the lamp.
π Penguins vs. Islanders picks & odds today: March 30
See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.
| Bet type | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Islanders moneyline (-120 via FanDuel) | 1u -> 0.83u | Penguins injury worries and recent struggles |
| Over 6.5 (+105 via DraftKings) | 0.5u -> 0.53u | Penguins allowing over 4 goals/game over their last 10 |
| Bo Horvat anytime goal scorer (+155 via FanDuel) | 0.75 -> 1.16u | Isles offensive engine |
Total wagered: 2.25 units | Max profit: 2.52 units
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π° Penguins vs. Islanders prediction & best bet
Islanders moneyline (-120)
Pittsburgh's injury woes are playing a big part in this pick, as it's possible the visitors will be without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin again. Both the Pens stars are considered "day-to-day," and even if either or both can suit up, they may not be 100%. It's an enormous blow to the visitors' offensive success.
The Isles also enter this tilt with more momentum. New York is wrapping up a five-game homestand tonight, winners of three of the first four. Ilya Sorokin has been pivotal to that success, allowing two or fewer goals in those wins.
Score prediction: Islanders 4, Penguins 3
💵 NHL player props tonight
This is far from the only high-scoring tilt we're forecasting on tonight's slate, and our Gary Pearson has highlighted a few other ways to attack the evening with his NHL player props tonight.
π₯ Best Penguins vs. Islanders player prop bet
Bo Horvat anytime goal scorer (+155)
Horvat is the Isles leading goal scorer with 30 on the season and gets to feast on a Penguins side that's allowing over four goals per game across their last 10 outings. Pittsburgh's defensive woes have registered across both starting goalies, so it seems it doesn't much matter who is between the pipes.
Horvat is excellent in the faceoff circle, with FO wins leading to possession that results in offensive-zone production, and has allowed 10 shots on goal against the Pens, resulting in two goals.
He's bringing in good form, with goals in two of his last four; he has proven results against the Pens this year; and his high shot volume, combined with Pittsburgh's struggles to keep pucks out, makes him a prime candidate to light the lamp.
This is a play for me at +150 or better.
🚨 More NHL anytime goal scorer picks
Looking for more players who are set to light the lamp tonight? Our Dustin Saracini has you covered with his NHL anytime goal scorer predictions tonight
βIs Sidney Crosby playing tonight?
Crosby was forced out of Pittsburgh's game with Ottawa on Thursday. He missed Saturday's game against the Dallas Stars.
He returned to practice on Sunday, and is reportedly traveling to Long Island tonight, although his status remains unsure. He is dealing with a lower-body injury.
βIs Evgeni Malkin playing tonight?
Malkin left last Sunday's game after taking a shot to the hand, and hasn't suited up in his last three games.
Malkin also returned to practice on Sunday, but his status for tonight seemed more up in the air, as he remained on the ice with reserves following the game and the coaching staff was non-committal about his joining the team in Elmont.
π Live Penguins vs. Islanders odds
This line has pulled back from opening at PIT +112 / NYI -134, and a couple of times yesterday dipped as low as Pittsburgh -102. It's a good sign that either the oddsmakers or the folks betting on Pittsburgh anticipate that at least one of Crosby and Malkin will suit up. In a situation that neither suits up, I'd expect the Isles to pull away again.
The total actually opened at 5.5 (-140/+112) but was quickly pushed to 6. At this point, we're seeing Over 6.5s trading at a plus-money level. I expect this line to hover around the Over 6 juiced-up and Over 6.5 at slight plus-money as the day progresses.
I still like the Over even if Malkin and Crosby don't play, and that value will probably get a bump if they don't go.
π Penguins vs. Islanders same-game parlay
We're going to roll our picks above for our SGP. Sometimes, when I build the SGP, I like to take the edge off by considering things like playing a flat number on the total or turning to a player point line instead of the goal-scorer line. Unfortunately, in this situation, playing the flat 6 and a Horvat point only lands us in the +200 range, and that's not quite what we're after. Let's go full force tonight.
I'm playing my line at bet365, where you can take advantage of some of the best sportsbook promos.
💵 Penguins vs. Islanders SGP picks
- Islanders moneyline (-120)
- Over 6.5 (-105)
- Bo Horvat anytime goal scorer (+150)
Best odds: +490 via bet365 (0.2u -> 1.18u)
π΅ My betting record for NHL picks
All NHL picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since March 3
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 5-7 | +1.42 units β | 20.3% β |
| Player props | 3-0 | +2.90 units β | 116.1% β |
| Parlays | 0-3 | -0.60 units β | -100% β |
π‘ How I'm betting Penguins vs. Islanders
Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.
Like any regular-season NHL game, there's no reason to get carried away.
The moneyline on New York (-120) is offering a great price while we wait on the official status of Crosby and Malkin, so I'll go a full unit there, expecting at least one of them to remain sidelined. I like Horvat to score in a high-scoring game between divisional opponents, so I'll set my total investment at just over 2 units to bump that anytime goal-scorer prop to 0.75 units.
π Penguins vs. Islanders betting trends
| Penguins | Statistic | Islanders |
|---|---|---|
| 36-21-16 | W-L record | 42-27-5 |
| 43-30 | ATS record | 36-38 |
| 41-30-2 | O/U record | 33-39-2 |
| 2-3-0 | Last 5 games | 3-2 |
π Penguins vs. Islanders injuries
πΊ How to watch Penguins vs. Islanders
- Date: Monday, March 30
- Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: UBS Arena (Elmont, N.Y.)
- TV: NHL Network
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