NHL predictions: Winning streak lifts Islanders to third in the Metropolitan

While teams in the Eastern Conference are jostling for the last few spots in the playoffs, the New York Islanders have clinched five consecutive victories, rocketing to third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Experienced goalkeeper Semyon Varlamov has recently taken a more pivotal role for the Islanders, boasting a record of 5-1 with a .938 save percentage in his latest six appearances.

Yet, the Islanders haven't secured a playoff berth just yet. They lead the Washington Capitals by only two points, the Pittsburgh Penguins by three points, and the Philadelphia Flyers by four points.

Should the season conclude today, the Isles would go head-to-head with the Stanley Cup favorites, the Carolina Hurricanes, who are listed at +617*. The odds for the Islanders to lift the Stanley Cup stand at +6500*.

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Almost like a bolt from the blue, the Washington Capitals keep managing wins, currently holding the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference despite a -40 goal differential. This figure places them 27th, hardly indicative of a playoff contender, yet the Capitals persist.

The Capitals are set to face the Buffalo Sabres, a team not destined for the playoffs this season, with a near-neutral goal differential of -1. These stats are a clear indicator of why both squads struggle with puck possession.

The Capitals snapped a six-game losing streak with a vital win last Tuesday against Detroit, triumphing 2-1 in a matchup where they were outshot 43-23. Meanwhile, the Sabres have secured wins in seven of their recent 10 home games.

In this showdown of mediocrity, the home-team Sabres should have the upper hand come Thursday.

Sabres ML (-131*)

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The New York Rangers, with 110 points from 79 games, lead the NHL. They’ve maintained a robust form, notching a 23-6-1 record in the last 30 games post-All-Star break. This starkly contrasts Thursday's opponents, the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers, against all odds, maintained a playoff position for most of the season. However, they've plummeted post-NHL trade deadline with a 3-9-3 record. The team is on an eight-game losing streak, having been thrashed 9-3 at Montreal on Tuesday following a 6-2 defeat at Columbus on Saturday.

With the Flyers tumbling and routinely being outplayed by teams at the bottom, they’re poorly poised to challenge the Rangers.

Rangers -1.5 (+116*)

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Although the New York Islanders have soared in the rankings, they are still tied for 20th with a 3.11 goals against average and are 21st with a 3.06 expected goals against average over the last month. This scenario suggests a potential for a higher-scoring game.

The Montreal Canadiens have exceeded a total of six goals in four of their last five games, hitting exactly six in the one game that didn't surpass the total. In the past month, Montreal’s expected goals against average of 3.81 ranks 31st, indicating defensive weaknesses that could further be exploited.

Given they're out of the playoff race, the Canadiens’ lackadaisical defensive play could be taken advantage of by the Islanders, but also allow Montreal to score, likely pushing this game Over.

Canadiens-Islanders Over 6 (-104*)

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Well-known for his defensive skills as a checking centre, Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning is stepping up his offensive game. He’s recorded eight goals and 13 points in his last 16 games, flourishing alongside Brandon Hagel and Steven Stamkos.

The Lightning are hosting the Ottawa Senators, a team currently 19th in expected goals against average and 17th in actual goals against average over the past month.

Facing a defensively weak Senators team, the Lightning are poised for a high-scoring affair, with Cirelli likely continuing his offensive momentum.

Anthony Cirelli Over 0.5 points (-107*)

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