Thursday NHL Prediction: New York Islanders at St Louis Blues

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Frank Martin

The New York Islanders will vie for their fifth straight road victory when they face off against the St Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center on Thursday.

New York has not won five in a row on the road since a six-game streak in October 2001. It is 5-2-2 in its last nine overall and 3-1-3 in its last seven meetings with St. Louis, which is on quite a streak of its own. The Blues, who have won five of seven overall, have earned at least one point in each of their last 19 home contests (16-0-3).

- New York Islanders @ St Louis Blues
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 16, 2012
Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

The Blues have opened as 200-moneyline favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NHL Hockey Odds.

New York Islanders (24-24-8): Marty Reasoner returned to the lineup and blocked a pair of shots in Tuesday's victory in Winnipeg. Reasoner had not played since Jan. 6 due to a broken thumb. With 51 points this season, P.A. Parenteau is three away from eclipsing his career high set in 2010-11. Matt Moulson has scored the first goal of the game a league-leading nine times this campaign. Evgeni Nabokov has allowed fewer than two goals in each of his last seven victories. Overall, the veteran has yielded more than three goals only once in his last 13 starts.

St Louis Blues (34-15-7): Jaroslav Halak and All-Star Brian Elliott are closing in on a franchise record. The goaltending duo has posted a combined 11 shutouts this season, two away from the club mark set in 1968-69 by Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante. Hall also established the team record for most blankings in a season that campaign with eight. Halak currently has six shutouts and Elliott five. St. Louis sent defenseman Ian Cole and center Evgeny Grachev to Peoria of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Cole recorded a goal and four assists in 18 games with the Blues while Grachev notched a tally and three assists in 26 contests.

1. The Islanders lead the NHL with 971 blocked shots.

2. St. Louis has allowed only four goals in the third period over its last 20 games.

3. Nabokov is 9-1-3 in his last 13 meetings with the Blues, while Halak is 5-0-1 in his last six contests against the Islanders.

NHL PREDICTION: Blues 4, Islanders 1

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brian elliott - evgeni nabokov - evgeny grachev - glenn hall - ian cole - jacques plante - jaroslav halak - marty reasoner - new york islanders - p.a. parenteau