New York Islanders (17-10-9) vs. Arizona Coyotes (19-14-2)
New York Islanders vs. Arizona Coyotes 1/4/24 – On January 4, 2024, New York Islanders and Arizona Coyotes are set to meet for an exciting NHL clash that is sure to make headlines. Both teams come into this encounter boasting impressive records: 17-10-9 for Islanders versus 19-14-2 for Coyotes; this game, part of regular NHL season playoffs, not only pits teams against each other but also showcases strategies, strengths, and weaknesses of players competing against one another; thus it makes headlines of today’s NHL top picks due to prime-time showdown at Mullett Arena starting at 9:00 PM ET.
The Islanders bring an intriguing offensive dynamic to this matchup with their recent mixed performance. Mathew Barzal has been the heart and soul of their offense this year with 10 goals and 26 assists. Bo Horvat and Noah Dobson have also contributed significantly to the team’s offense; Bo Horvat in particular has contributed greatly towards keeping opponents off balance with his stellar play on defense. Combined together, these three could pose quite the threat to Coyotes defensive strategies due to varying success against spread games on the road.
Arizona Coyotes have shown more consistent play of late. Clayton Keller leads their offense with 13 goals and 18 assists, with Matias Maccelli and Lawson Crouse also being key pieces to the Coyotes’ attack. Their offensive strength will test the Islanders’ defensive abilities which have shown some vulnerability recently.
New York Islanders vs. Arizona Coyotes 1/4/24 Game Info
| When: | Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 9:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Mullett Arena |
| TV: | TBD |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Ilya Sorokin vs. Goaltender Connor Ingram
At the core of any match-up between New York Islanders and Arizona Coyotes is its goaltender showdown: Ilya Sorokin against Connor Ingram. Sorokin, representing New York Islanders, has shown remarkable resilience and skill this season with 24 games under his belt and a save percentage of 0.912, showing that he’s reliable even during critical moments. Furthermore, his total time on ice of over 1440 minutes, 779 saves made, endurance against offensive barrages as well as his performance in shootouts could make or break this contest; Sorokin boasts an astounding 0.636 shootout save percentage!
On the Coyotes side of things, Connor Ingram of Arizona represents an equally formidable challenge. With an improved save percentage of 0.919 through 22 games played, Ingram has been an essential piece in their defensive lineup and his goal-against average of 2.49 (less than Sorokin’s 3.12 average) shows his effectiveness at limiting scoring chances for opposition teams. Furthermore, Ingram’s 100% save rate in shootouts gives Arizona an added psychological edge, potentially tilting their defense in favor of Arizona and making it harder for Islander attackers to score against Arizona!
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
As yet, betting odds for this matchup remain unknown; however, given each team’s performance and standings thus far, odds may slightly favor the Coyotes due to their recent form and home advantage. Bettors should keep an eye out as new odds become available as both teams possess enough power to move the game in either direction.
New York Islanders Betting Trends
The Islanders have had mixed success when it comes to betting trends. Their record in their last five games stands at 2-3 both overall and against the spread, although their performance in road games against the spread (11-5) suggests there may be upset potential in away matches. Furthermore, three out of their last five totals went OVER in these contests which could portend higher-scoring matches in future matches.
Arizona Coyotes Betting Trends
The Coyotes have been more consistent recently, earning three victories out of their past five matches while going 3-2 against the spread and four total goals over in four of these contests, suggesting their games tend to be high scoring affairs.
New York Islanders vs. Arizona Coyotes 1/4/24 Betting Picks
Given analysis and betting trends, this matchup appears poised to be tightly contested. While the Islanders could exploit their road game strength against Arizona, their recent form and home advantage cannot be ignored by them.
For those in search of premium tips and predictions, this game presents a difficult choice. Given their recent form and home advantage, a safe bet could be on the Coyotes; however, due to their recent results when they play away games for New York Islanders. Meanwhile, prop bets could focus on individual player performances, especially goalies such as Barzal or Keller who could prove pivotal – particularly concerning over/under calculations which tend to favour leaning towards over.
Free Pick and Prediction: Arizona Coyotes 4, New York Islanders 3.