Posted at 12:15 PM EST odds are subject to change.

Pinnacle +106 BET365 +100 SportsInteraction 102 888Sport -105

NY Islanders +105 over Seattle

10:07 PM EST. If the season ended today, the Islanders would be the #8 seed (aka the second Wild Card spot) in the playoffs. As we approach the halfway point of the NHL season, urgency sets in for teams fighting for those coveted playoff spots, which includes the Islanders and the Kraken, who are just on the outside looking in. The big difference between the Islanders and the Kraken is that the Isles have rock-solid goaltending while the Kraken have the worst pair of goaltenders in the league. Big, big edge to the Isles in goal here.

Weak goaltending deflates a team more than anything else because the players can’t do anything about it. They work their asses off and then BOOM, one shot on net and they’re down 1-0. One mistake and they’re down another goal. Last game, Edmonton was up on Seattle 3-0 three minutes in on five shots and then Philip Grubauer was yanked with a save % of .400. Martin Jones came in and allowed four more goals on 23 shots for a save % of .852. Two games ago, Seattle was up on Vancouver 4-2 after two periods and 5-3 with 12 minutes left only to lose in OT, 6-5. Over its last 11 games, Seattle has lost games by scores of 5-2, 4-1. 4-2, 6-2, 5-2, 5-2, 6-5 and 7-2. They also won a game 9-8. Needing to score five or six goals to have a legit shot of winning is a lot to ask from a favorite. Being at home under these circumstances is not beneficial either.

For the Islanders, this is the first game of a crucial four-game trip that’ll end with games at Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. Setting the tone in the first game is of the utmost importance. Furthermore, the Isles have found a groove with three straight wins while not allowing more than one goal against in any of those games v Pittsburgh, Columbus and Florida. The Islanders have allowed one goal or less in four of their last five games while the Kraken have allowed an avalanche of goals. Which team is feeling more confident? Which team trusts their goaltending? Which team has some swag right now? Which team is taking back a price?