Published Apr 8, 3:25am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Apr 8, 3:25am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Apr 8, 3:25am ET
Wins have been in short supply for both the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs in recent weeks. However, both sides will have a perfect opportunity to get back on track on April 9.
The Islanders have dropped to fifth in the Metropolitan Division after suffering defeats in their last four. Meanwhile, the Leafs have lost back-to-back games to exit playoff contention.
A drastic move was made over the weekend, as Peter DeBoer was appointed as the replacement for Patrick Roy.
The Islanders still have playoff aspirations at this late stage of the season, but they will need to snap a poor run of form, which has seen them lose each of their last four, and seven of their previous ten. New York’s most recent defeat was suffered on the road over the weekend, as they were beaten 4-3 by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bo Horvat remains the most important player for the Islanders, having scored a team-high 30 goals.
A miserable season for the Toronto Maple Leafs was compounded on April 2, as the franchise exited playoff contention following a loss against the San Jose Sharks.
The defeat means that the Leafs won’t be in the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. Toronto’s form has failed to pick up since, losing each of their last two, and there is a real danger that the Maple Leafs could end the campaign with a losing overall record.
The Leafs were beaten 7-6 in overtime by the Los Angeles Kings in their most recent outing.
| TOTAL | Islanders | Maple Leafs | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reguation WINS | 190 | 95 | 88 | - |
| GOALS | 1249 | 652 | 597 |
Both of these teams come into this round in poor overall recent form. However, the Islanders will be well rested since their latest defeat, and they have won 60% of their games against the Maple Leafs at UBS Arena.
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Pick
NY Islanders
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New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
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