The New York Islanders can clinch a spot in the NHL’s final four Wednesday night as they lead the Boston Bruins 3-2 in their playoff series heading back to Long Island. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks?
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 – 07:30 PM ET at Nassau Coliseum
This writer doesn’t really care personally whether the Boston Bruins or New York Islanders win this East Division series, but I will be rooting a bit for the Bruins in Game 6 on Wednesday just so we are guaranteed a Game 7 on Friday back in Boston. Nothing beats a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
With New York up 3-2, the Isles are -195 on the series line at BMR’s top-rated books with the Bruins at +170. That the Islanders win in six is +115 with Bruins in seven at +165 and Islanders in seven at +310. To reach the Stanley Cup Finals, the Islanders are +350 and Bruins +450. I don’t think this series winner will beat the defending Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the next round unless the Lightning suffers a major injury.
I did think Boston would win this series entering it and was feeling quite good following a 2-1 OT win at the Islanders in Game 3 for a 2-1 lead, but something has gone wrong with Tuukka Rask in net since. Actually, he wasn’t all that bad in Game 4 but allowed four goals on just 16 shots in Game 5. The future Hall of Famer was pulled for rookie Jeremy Swayman.
Coach Bruce Cassidy said that Rask is dealing with a myriad of injuries and is questionable for Game 6. Prior to Monday, Swayman had last played May 11 in Boston’s regular-season finale, and he would get the call Wednesday if Rask can’t go. Swayman was 7-3-0 with a 1.50 GAA, a .945 save percentage, and two shutouts in 10 regular-season games. He was third string to begin his career but then passed veteran Jaroslav Halak on the depth chart.
Boston already has ruled out winger Curtis Lazar and defensemen Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller for Game 6. Lazar was hurt in Game 5, Carlo in Game 4 and Miller hasn’t played for a few weeks.
Incidentally, Cassidy is a bit lighter in the wallet. He was fined $25K by the league for criticizing the officiating after Game 5. Cassidy was upset the Bruins were called for four penalties and the Isles for just two. The Boston penalty kill, No. 2 in the NHL during the regular season, surrendered three goals on four chances Monday and has been abysmal all series. Carlo and Miller were key on the PK during the regular season.
"This is my take on it: We’re playing a team that has a very well-respected management and coaching staff. But I think they sell a narrative over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders," Cassidy said. "They play hard and they play the right way, but I feel we’re the same way. And the exact calls that get called on us do not get called on them, and I don’t know why."
This could be the last Islanders game ever at venerable Nassau Coliseum as the team is moving to a new arena adjacent to Belmont Park, home of the Belmont Stakes, for next season and beyond. All home games were at the Coliseum this year for the first time since 2014-2015. The Isles had moved to Brooklyn for a while but that was largely a flop.
The last time the Islanders had a chance to clinch a spot in the conference finals – technically, there are no conferences this year, but you get the idea -- at the Coliseum was April 18, 1984. New York made last year’s conference finals but that was in the bubble.
This writer backed the Islanders at +1.5 (-160) on the puckline for Game 5 in Boston and New York won it outright 5-4. After trailing 1-0 very early, the Isles scored five of the next six goals and held on. They have now trailed by at least one goal in each of their five victories since Game 5 of the first round vs. Pittsburgh.
New York tied a franchise road playoff record with three power-play goals in Game 5, coming from Mathew Barzal (third of playoffs overall), Kyle Palmieri (sixth) and Jordan Eberle (third). It was Barzal’s third straight game with a goal, and he added two assists.
Palmieri’s sixth goal of the postseason marked the second straight year that the Islanders have had an in-season acquisition score as many goals in the ensuing playoffs. Jean-Gabriel Pageau had eight in last year’s playoffs; he’s still with the team.
Semyon Varlamov allowed four goals on 44 shots Monday and there’s no reason he won’t be back in net for this one. However, winger Oliver Wahlstrom (lower body) hasn’t played in the series and won’t Wednesday.
Boston is 1-5 on the NHL odds in its past six at the Islanders. We think the Isles finish it off and frankly are shocked they are underdogs.
NHL pick: Islanders at +110 with Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.