Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions November 28th 2024

Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders November 28th 2024

Betting on today’s Islanders and Capitals game? Catch the action at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, as the Capitals hosts this showdown at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this Metropolitan division contest is set at 5.5 goals, with the Capitals being favored by -1.5 at home against the Islanders.

New York vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Islanders at Capitals
• Where: Capital One Arena Washington
• Date: Friday, November 29th
• Betting Odds WAS -152 | NYI +129 O/U 5.5

The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders fell to 8-10-5 after a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. As underdogs on the puck line, the Islanders failed to cover. The total was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 7 surpassed that mark.

New York trailed 2-0 before Casey Cizikas scored at 15:22 in the second period. Brock Nelson added another goal just before the period ended, narrowing the gap to 3-2, but the Rangers pulled away in the third.

In their 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Casey Cizikas scored his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth, with Nelson’s goal coming just 8 seconds before the second period ended.

The Islanders recorded 23 giveaways and were shut out in the first period. Cizikas’ goal came 4:38 into the second period, and Nelson followed with a goal at the 19:52 mark.

Defensively, the Islanders will look to improve after giving up 5 goals to the Rangers. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with a save percentage of 89.7%, and the defense added 12 takeaways and 17 hits. The Islanders allowed the first two goals of the game and two more in the third period, including an empty-netter.

• Across New York’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 1-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Islanders have gone 3-7 over their last ten regular season games. Across these games, their puck line record was just 7-3, while posting an over-under record of 5-4-1.

The Capitals Can Win If…

After a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes, the Capitals are now 15-6-1. Washington led 2-1 after the first period, but Carolina scored three unanswered goals to secure the win.

The total for the game was set at 6 goals, and the combined score matched that number. Washington, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. Both of the Capitals’ goals came in the first period.

Washington’s offense was limited to just two goals in their 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes. Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season on a power play, while Brandon Duhaime added his 2nd goal. The Capitals took 21 shots on goal and recorded 15 giveaways.

Both of Washington’s goals came in the first period, with Ovechkin scoring at 19:16 and Duhaime following up at 19:49. John Carlson picked up his 7th assist on Ovechkin’s goal, and Dylan Strome added his 13th assist.

Despite a 2-1 lead after the first period, the Capitals’ defense struggled, giving up three unanswered goals—two in the second and one more in the third. The final goal was an empty-netter with just 9 seconds left. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the defense recorded only 2 takeaways and 20 hits.

• Washington has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. In terms of betting, the team went 3-0 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 1-2.
• The Capitals have gone 6-4 over their last ten regular season games. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 8-2, in addition to an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Capitals to come out with a win against the Islanders while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -152, I’m placing my bet on the Capitals to win outright.

When making a puck line pick, we’re backing the Capitals to win and cover. Watch for the Capitals to win this game by multiple goals over the Islanders.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Capitals Thrive Without Ovechkin

The Washington Capitals continue to prove their mettle without their superstar Alex Ovechkin, who is sidelined for another 3-5 weeks with a fractured fibula. Despite an initial stumble, the Capitals have regained their stride with back-to-back road wins over the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Wednesday’s thrilling 5-4 comeback win against the Lightning underscored Washington’s resilience. Trailing three different times, the Capitals responded with grit, capped by Tom Wilson’s decisive power-play goal late in the third period.

“When stuff happens and there’s ups and downs, you find a lot out about your team,” Wilson said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the group and our goalie … just everybody stepping up.”

Islanders Seek Defensive Consistency

The New York Islanders head into Friday’s clash looking to correct troubling late-game collapses. In their latest setback, a 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, the Islanders rallied twice to tie the game but faltered as Boston scored three unanswered goals in the final 10 minutes.

Allowing a league-high 36 third-period goals this season, the Islanders’ lapses in crunch time have hampered their efforts. Despite this, head coach Patrick Roy believes the team is trending positively in their overall play.

“We’re not giving up 40 shots, we’re giving 21 … but we’re making mistakes at key times that cause goals,” Roy said.

However, New York’s struggling special-teams units remain a concern. The Islanders rank near the bottom of the league in both power-play (12.5%) and penalty-kill (70.2%) efficiency.

Key Players and Stats

Capitals’ Power Play Revival

After a dismal start to the season with just 4-for-46 on the power play, Washington has turned things around, going 8-for-20 with the man advantage in their last nine games.

Logan Thompson is expected to start in goal for Washington, boasting a stellar 9-1-1 record with a 2.44 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

Islanders’ Offensive Sparks

Brock Nelson is heating up for the Islanders, tallying seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last three games after a slow start to the season. However, the Islanders’ penalty kill remains a glaring weakness despite their league-low penalty minutes.

With back-to-back games this weekend, goalies Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov will likely split starts. Varlamov could get the nod against his former team after Sorokin’s subpar outing against Boston.

Capitals’ Standouts

Dylan Strome leads Washington’s offense with 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists), stepping up in Ovechkin’s absence. Wilson and Charlie Lindgren have also played pivotal roles in keeping the Capitals competitive.

Matchup Outlook

This showdown will be a battle of contrasts: the Capitals’ surging power play against the Islanders’ struggling special teams. Washington’s defensive stability and goaltending could give them the edge, but New York’s offensive depth poses a threat if the Capitals falter late.

Will Washington maintain their momentum and extend their streak, or will New York find a way to shore up their third-period woes? Friday’s matchup will be crucial for both teams as they navigate their respective challenges.