Boston Bruins (38-16-10) at New York Islanders (37-20-8)
The Bruins won in OT in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in this East Division finals series. This big rivalry game can be seen on NBC.
The oddsmakers are favoring the Bruins in this game, even on the road, at -140 with the Islanders at +120 and a total of 5.5 goals.
The Bruins beat the Islanders 2-1 in overtime in Game 2 to take control of this series. They have won six of their last seven games and in their last four wins have not given up more than two goals.
The Islanders are led by their defense and in the two losses in the series they have only totaled three goals. The team ranked second in the regular season in goals against per game and while they only gave up two goals in the Game 3 loss they have still given up10 goals in this series.
The Bruins have won 19 of their last 26 games facing the Islanders in New York.
The road team has won two of the three games in this series.
Marchand Comes Through in the Clutch
In the 2-1 OT win in Game 3 in this series star Brad Marchand came through in the clutch scoring the game-winning goal 3:36 into overtime. Craig Smith netted his second goal in the series in the first period in the game, where Boston outshot New York 41-29.
Tuuka Rask (15-5-2 w.28 GAA regular season) turned away 28 of 29 shots in the last game after he gave up four goals in the Game 2 loss. He has started every game in the post-season, has not given up more than two goals in five of his last six starts, and in the playoffs has a solid GAA of 1.93.
Marchand led the Bruins in the regular season in points, goals, and assists, in the playoffs he has five goals and two assists, and he has lit the lamp in each of the last two games.
David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in the post-season with five goals and 10 points and he Bergeron and Marchand have combined for 14 post-season goals.
The Bruins are 6-1 in their last seven playoffs games when they are the betting favorite.
Not Quite the Same Attack
The Islanders won Game 2 scoring four goals, but their attack was not quite the same in the Game 3 loss with only a single goal.
Mathew Barzal scored his first goal of the playoffs in the loss in the last game and Semyon Varlamov (19-11-4 2.04 GAA regular season) stopped 39 of 41 shots. He has given up 10 goals in his last three starts and for the playoffs has a GAA of 2.83.
The Islanders have won four of five playoff games with Ilya Sorokin (13-6-3 regular season) and he has a playoff GAA of 2.32 and while he may get the start in this game he gave up four goals in the first game of this series.
New York has been led in the playoff by Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who each have nine points apiece. Kyle Palmieri had an assist in the Game 3 loss, has a goal and two assists over the last two games, and in the post-season has four goals and two assists.
Prediction
The Bruins have a 2-1 lead in this series and they have won with solid defense giving up only three goals in the two wins. They have the momentum in this series and are t4he betting favorite in this game. I see another low-scoring game in this one between two teams led by their defense but Boston has the better attack, which is why I am taking them to win Game 4 and take a 3-1 series lead.
PICK: Bruins -140