Islanders vs. Maple Leafs prediction: NHL odds, picks, best bets for Monday

news sports betting Sports Picks toronto maple leafs Bonus Code

Both New York teams are in action Monday when the NHL kicks off the second half of the regular season.

While the Rangers host the Avalanche, the Islanders head north of the border to take on the Maple Leafs.

Islanders vs. Maple Leafs prediction

The Islanders havent got the new-coach bump that other teams did after a midseason change behind the bench, but the process already looks better under Patrick Roy than it did under Lane Lambert.

Prior to the change the Islanders graded out as the worst defensive team in the league by basically every metric except goals against.

And while its a small sample size, Roy has the Islanders trending in the right direction.

Under Lambert this season, the Islanders allowed 69 shot attempts, 33 shots on goal and 12.7 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five.

In four games under Roy, those numbers have dipped to 55, 30 and 7.6, respectively.

Its worth reiterating that its been only four games since Roy took over, but its also important to wonder where this teams ceiling can be with a competent defense. Theyve somehow managed to hang around the playoff picture despite woeful defensive metrics; who knows where they can go if things get cleaned up.

Islanders_vs_Maple_Leafs_prediction_NHL_odds_picks_best_bets_for_Monday Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews. NHLI via Getty ImagesIts been a very uneven season so far for the Maple Leafs, but the Buds quieted the noise with a three-game winning streak right before the break.

There are still some very real issues for Toronto, notably a lack of depth and a below-average defense, but the Leafs have enough elite skill to make them a dangerous opponent on any given night.

With that said, thats not really the type of team you want to back at this kind of price.

Betting on the NHL?

Check out the best NHL betting sites
Read our expert guide on how to bet on the NHL
Get the latest Stanley Cup Odds

If the Islanders get their act together defensively, they should start to trend in the right direction and play at a better pace than they did through the first 49 games of the season.

Well back on that defensive improvement to continue against a team that profiles as a vulnerable favorite Monday night.

Best Bet: Islanders (+140, Caesars)

How many decks are used in poker?

In most popular poker variants, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is used. Each deck contains four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and consists of 13 ranks (Ace, 2 through 10, and the face cards: Jack, Queen, and King).

What is the bonus code for WPT Global Poker 2023?

The best bonus code for WPT Global is WPT777. By entering the bonus code, players will get a welcome bonus 100% up to $1,200 on the first deposit. The minimum deposit is $20.