Islanders vs. Penguins NHL Playoffs Odds and Game 2 Breakdown — May 18th, 2021

By Hank Blaine • May 18, 2021

We are headed into Game 2 between the Islanders vs. Penguins. Looking back at the first encounter, it was quite the battle. Both teams were going back and forth, until one of them was able to take the upper hand. That was the case for the Islanders, as they beat the Penguins 4-3 this past Sunday.

Pittsburgh took the lead early on Game 1, but were stopped for the rest of the game by the Islanders goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin, who took the spot due to Semyon Varlamov out due to a lower-body injury. He might start again after his recent performance, bringing enough headaches for the Penguins, which they already had when they went into overtime in this matchup.

With that, NitroBetting News goes over the highlights of the upcoming game, including recent team form, the latest NHL odds, betting trends, and betting predictions, all of which are geared to help you lock in those winning picks. Don’t forget to check out more Hockey odds and lines at our online BTC sportsbook before placing your bets!

Penguins vs. Islanders Game 2 Information

When: Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 7:30 PM ET
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, MSG, MSG+
Radio: (WFLA 970 AM Lightning) / (Fox Sports 640 South Florida)
Live Stream: NHL Live
NHL Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins (-132) / OU: 5.5

Why Bet on the New York Islanders?

Many wouldn’t put a dime on the Islanders. It’s understandable, the Pens have a much solid team that brings the heat. But looking at recent history, the Islanders have bear Pittsburgh five times in the playoffs. Their most recent being the sweep from two years ago. They are no strangers to this pressure against them.

The top player to look out for on the New York side is Kyle Palmieri. He scored two goals for them in the first game. Along with Palmieri, line mate Jean-Gabriel Pageau assisted with two, scored one goal, had five shots and five hits in over 21 minutes. These two together are a force to reckon with and that Pittsburgh can’t let slide in the front.

Why Bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Their overtime performance in Game 1 had a shaky Pittsburgh that wasn’t able to hold on to the tie. It was a great job, but not enough to take the win at home. Losing their star goalkeeper in Semyon Varlamov had its consequences. Still, a great job, considering their stats for the game were 2.4 expected goals at 5 on 5, compared to New York’s 1.9.

No doubt Sidney Crosby will be their top player to watch. He was able to score a goal in Game 1, and currently has 10 points in nine games against the Islanders this campaign. In total, he has 122 points in 75 games against the Isles. The lack of Evgeni Malkin was noticeable, but the captain could lead the Penguins to a tie a start complicating things for New York.

Penguins vs. Islanders Betting Trends

The Islanders are 2-4 SU in the last 6 games.
The Islanders are 2-6 SU in the last 8 games against Pittsburgh.
The total went OVER in 4 of the Islanders’ last 6 games.
The Penguins are 9-3 SU in the last 12 games.
The Penguins are 4-1 SU in the last 5 games when playing at home against NY Islanders.
The total went OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games.

Penguins vs. Islanders Expert Betting Predictions

Taking the first win of the series will boost any teams confidence and there’s a lot that the Islanders will have in Game 2, if they’re able to hold off the Penguins of course. And that’s the other thing, the Pens are still the more solid team, they just need to regroup in this game to show the league why they are one of the top clubs to this day. Be careful betting on the former champions.

Feel free to browse sports betting guides. While you are at it, go ahead and check out all the latest NHL betting odds and more in our online BTC sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.