Once NHL betting odds are posted, the Rangers are a lock to be favored.

The Rangers have jumped out to an 8-3-1 start while the Islanders are tied with Toronto for the fewest wins in the NHL, going 1-4-5.

Last season, the Rangers went 5-1-0 against the Islanders and won all three meetings at Nassau Coliseum.

A bright spot early in the season for the Islanders was the play of John Tavares, the top overall pick in June’s draft. The 19-year-old center recorded three goals and four assists in his first six games, but he’s been held without a point in his last four.

Marian Gaborik has 10 goals on the season for the Rangers.

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The following is the first round order of selection for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, updated after the New York Islanders won the NHL Draft Lottery in April and after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final:

1 New York Islanders
2 Tampa Bay Lightning
3 Colorado Avalanche
4 Atlanta Thrashers
5 Los Angeles Kings
6 Phoenix Coyotes
7 Toronto Maple Leafs
8 Dallas Stars
9 Ottawa Senators
10 Edmonton Oilers
11 Nashville Predators
12 Minnesota Wild
13 Buffalo Sabres
14 Florida Panthers
15 Anaheim Ducks
16 Columbus Blue Jackets
17 St. Louis Blues
18 Montreal Canadiens
19 New York Rangers
20 Calgary Flames
21 Philadelphia Flyers
22 Vancouver Canucks
23 New Jersey Devils
24 Washington Capitals
25 Boston Bruins
26 New York Islanders (SJ-OTT)
27 Carolina Hurricanes
28 Chicago Blackhawks
29 Detroit Red Wings
30 Pittsburgh Penguins

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The Islanders have been just plain awful in 2009, having not even won a single game in the month of January. New York is riding a seven-game losing streak after falling to New Jersey 3-1 last time out. Blake Comeau scored the lone goal for the offensively-weak Islanders, who have scored only three goals in their last three games.

The Capitals are 2-0 against the Islanders this season with a 5-2 win in Washington in early December and a 5-4 overtime victory two weeks later. Alexander Ovechkin had three goals and two assists in those two games, and in 13 career games against the Islanders he has recorded 14 points.

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Pittsburgh, playing the second of back-to-back games, will try to avoid a fourth straight loss when it meets the New York Islanders tonight.

This will be the sixth game in nine days for the Penguins, who are 1-3-1 during this stretch including regulation losses in the last three contests. Pittsburgh hasn't dropped four in a row since 2007. After Friday's road game with Philadelphia, the Pens will have played seven games (five of them on the road) in 11 days. It is tiring just reading that.

Tonight is the night for the Pens to cash in since the Islanders are struggling and have given up 4.6 goals per game during the last seven contests. Get all your NHL betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.

The Leafs, winners of four of 13 home games this season, have scored only six goals during their three-game losing streak, one shy of a season high.

Since losing four of five to the Leafs, the Islanders are 5-2-0 in the last seven meetings. The home team is 26-6-1 in the last 33 meetings.

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The Islanders are coming off a horrible game where they allowed 11 power plays and were blown out 7-1 by Buffalo on Monday. It does not help that the Islanders are 1-6 in the last seven meetings in Tampa Bay.

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Gordon’s training camp proved to be so physically demanding that many players were hurt, including D Chris Campoli. But the Isles already have an upgrade at that position with former Montreal blueliner Mark Streit in uniform Friday against the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils (18-1) have been carried by goaltender Martin Brodeur the last couple of seasons. They’ll be better up front this year with LW Brian Rolston coming over from Minnesota, and their no-name defense adds 10-year veteran Anssi Salmela from Finland.

That's the one uttered by New York Islanders GM Garth Snow today as he relieved coach Ted Nolan of his bench duties. Here's what Snow had to say:

"We all know we probably weren't all on the same page in certain areas. It wasn't going to work if two people aren't on the same page. That's why the meeting was healthy because we both realized that there were differences in philosophy."

Here's what Nolan had to say:

"There have been philosophical differences and we've agreed it's a good time for me to move on. I want to thank the Islanders organization for giving me a chance to coach in the NHL again. I have tremendous respect for what the team is trying to do and I wish them well."

The NHL: Where philosophy can cost you your job.

Where does this leave the Islanders for next season? Think they'll get back into the playoffs with a new coach behind the bench? Throw down in the Bodog Sportsbook today and make good with your sporting prognoses!

The Islanders won't be raising any banners this year, but they haven't quit either. (Flickr photo by dethtrip99)

The New York Islanders are officially eliminated from the NHL playoffs, but that doesn't mean they're just going to pack it in. Tonight, at home, they took out the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1.

Bill Guerin, Richard Park, Sean Bergenheim and Trent Hunter scored for the Isles while Wade Dubielewicz stopped 28 shots for the victory. Petr Sykora notched the Pens' only tally.

Pittsburgh was without Sidney Crosby for the sixth straight game with an ankle injury though he's likely to return soon. The Isles were also without a key player: Mr. Hillary Duff, aka Mike Comrie, had the flu.

Pittsburgh and Montreal continue to battle for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Here are the up-to-date NHL standings. BTW, the Habs beat Ottawa 7-5 tonight.

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