Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Devils vs. Islanders (Friday)

We have a Metropolitan Division tilt on Friday as the New York Islanders host the New Jersey Devils. Below, I walk through my favorite bet to make for this contest.

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Friday’s NHL Best Bet: Devils vs. Islanders

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

New Jersey Devils (-138) @ New York Islanders (+115) | O/U 5.5 (-140/+114)

There have been five or fewer total goals scored in each of the the Islanders’ first two games, a trend I project to continue on Friday. Yes, the opposite trend is true for the Devils, but they have yet to face a defense/goaltending combo as strong as New York’s.

At 5-on-5, the Islanders rank sixth in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). Backing up defensively sound blue line is the consistent Vezina-worthy goaltending of Ilya Sorokin.

Sorokin boasts a SV% north of .917 in all three of his years in this league, finishing sixth in the Vezina voting in 2021-22 and runner-up last year. He even got some Hart Trophy votes last season as he ranked third among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.

Carrying that strong play into this season, Sorokin is 2-0 with a .952 SV% and 1.00 GAA. He once again is tasked with needing to be proficient in order to offset the lack of goal support he gets.

Thus far, New York ranks 24th in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5.

Conversely, the Devils rely on their fast-paced and dynamite offense to win games. With that said, they also rank in the bottom half of the league thus far in xGF/60 at 5-on-5.

There have been five or fewer total goals scored in 12 of the past 19 meetings between these two clubs.

Bet: Under 5.5 (+114)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday:

Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.