New York Islanders at Colorado Avalanche odds, picks and predictions

The New York Islanders (0-1-1) and Colorado Avalanche (0-2) are lined up for a Monday tilt in Denver. The opening faceoff at Ball Arena will be at 9 p.m. (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Islanders vs. Avalanche odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting; Colorado won last season’s series 2-0-0 with an overtime win included

New York opened a 3-game road trip Saturday with a 3-0 loss at the Dallas Stars. Monday’s game will mark the Islanders’ 3rd game in 5 days.

Colorado is coming off a 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday. Avalanche netminders have logged a shaky .714 SV% as part of the club coughing up 14 goals through 2 games.

Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!

Islanders at Avalanche odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 8:10 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline: Islanders +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Avalanche -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
• Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Islanders +1.5 (-165) | Avalanche -1.5 (+140)
• Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Islanders at Avalanche projected goalies

Ilya Sorokin (25-19-12, 3.01 GAA, .908 SV%, 2 SO in 2023-24) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (0-1-0, 7.75 GAA, .680 SV%)

Sorokin was limited during training camp following offseason back surgery, and Monday at Colorado would mark the 29-year-old’s 1st action of the season.

Georgiev has been pulled in each of his 2 starts so far this season. The most recent of those outings was Saturday when he was pulled after yielding 3 goals in 22 minutes.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Islanders at Avalanche picks and predictions

Prediction

Avalanche 4, Islanders 3

PASS: No interest here.

Sorokin has been a fast starter over his career, clocking a .925 SV% across 19 October games. The Isles’ game analytics weren’t nearly as bad as what showed on the scoreboard in Saturday’s setback at Dallas.

The Avs have obviously been loose on defense in the early going. Expect a competitive battle in this Monday nighter.

The last 2 New York games in Denver went past 60 minutes. Tab the ISLANDERS +1.5 (-165) with just a slight lean.

The last 6 games of this series have seen the Over go 5-1.

Colorado’s 2 games have produced a combined 6 special-teams goals (3 power-play goals scored and allowed), and the Avs have been weak between the pipes.

The coming-back-from-injury Sorokin is enough of a question mark at the other end. Both clubs’ early games have made for a lot of 5-on-5 looks from high-danger scoring areas at both ends of the ice.

The OVER 6.5 (-105) is the strongest play in this matchup.