Anaheim Ducks vs New York Islanders

New York has won four of five after defeating San Jose 4-2 last night and that followed an impressive road win against Winnipeg its previous game. Marcus Hogberg is slated to start for the Islanders and he owns a 1.44 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage in seven appearances this season. He has won three of his past four starts. New York has won six straight against opponents that have losing records and Anaheim is 1-5 its past six against losing teams. The Islanders have won six of the past seven meetings and they are on an 8-3 run versus Western Conference teams. The Ducks have lost five of seven, including 4-3 to St. Louis on Friday, and they have lost six of nine against the Eastern Conference. Take the Islanders.

Anaheim has vastly improved its defense ranked ninth in goals allowed and fourth in save percentage (.918). The Ducks have won six of their last 18, including wins as underdogs of +135, +240, +300, and +205. New York has lost five of eight to begin the new season. The Islanders have a losing home mark (1-2-1) with a defense ranked 17th in save percentage (.897), and an offense that is 29th in goals scored and 30th in shooting percentage. They've been a favorite of -110 or higher three times this season and lost all three, including three home games ago to Montreal as -175 chalk. Play Anaheim. 

New York has beaten the Ducks five times in a row after a 4-3 win on Dec. 13 in the only meeting this season. The Islanders are on a five-game win streak while outscoring opponents 24-10, including a 7-2 rout of San Jose on Thursday. Bo Horvat had a goal and two assists and Ilya Sorokin had 23 saves for the Islanders, who will start Semyon Varlamov in this game. Varlamov has a 2.91 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in limited action this season. Lukas Dostal is likely for Anaheim with a 10-16-1 record and a 3.51 goals-against average. Anaheim is 2-9 against the Metropolitan Division and the Ducks have lost 41 of 55 home games and they average only 2.62 goals per game. Take the Islanders as a Max Play.

A couple of penalties cost New York on Tuesday night and Los Angeles scored two power-play goals en route to a 5-2 victory with Ilya Sorokin allowing four goals. Semyon Varlamov is likely tonight and he has a 2.79 GAA and .910 save percentage with two shutouts this season. Anahiem is second-to-last in the Pacific Division and has lost four of six, including a 5-4 shootout defeat to Nashville on Sunday. Ducks goalie John Gibson is having one of his worst seasons with a 14-24-8 record and 3.85 GAA. The Islanders have bounced back and won eight of 10 after scoring two or fewer goals their previous game and the Ducks are 4-22 playing with two days rest and 11-28 against Eastern Conference teams. Also, Anaheim is 9-25 versus a team that scored two or fewer goals its previous game. Take the Islanders.