New York Islanders vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Game Preview and Prediction 1/23/2023

The struggling New York Islanders head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. EST.

New York enters tonight with a 23-20-5 record (51 points) and sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division. The Isles have had a rough go of it in the month of January, as the side is currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak and a 2-6-3 January record. Brock Nelson leads New York in goals with 17 while Anders Lee sits second on the team with 15. Nelson and Mathew Barzal are tied for the team lead in points with 41 each, while Lee rounds out the top three with 31. Ilya Sorokin has made his case to win the Vezina Trophy thus far. The 27-year-old is 15-15-4 but has a 2.37 goals against average and .924 save percentage in 36 games. The Islanders will get healthier tonight, as both Adam Pelech (head) and Kyle Palmieri (upper body) were activated off injured reserve today.

Toronto carries a 28-11-8 record (64 points) into tonight’s game and sit second in the Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs have hit a bit of a slow patch, too, with a 2-2-1 record over their last five games. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are tied atop the Toronto scoring charts with 24 goals each. Mitch Marner leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 56 points, while both Matthews and Nylander have 52. Ilya Samsonov has had a great campaign when he’s been healthy. The 25-year-old is 14-4-2 with a 2.22 GAA and a .919 SV% in 20 games. T.J. Brodie will miss the next two games as he continues to battle a rib injury that has already sidelined him for the past seven contests.

While Toronto swept last season’s series (3-0-0), New York took the first meeting between the sides in overtime earlier this year. Tonight’s projected starting goaltenders are Sorokin for the Islanders and Samsonov for the Maple Leafs. 

Prediction: Toronto 4, New York 1

I am going to stick with the better team to win at home. On top of New York’s abysmal stretch right now, the more talented Maple Leafs are 17-3-4 at home this season. Toronto should have control of this game for the majority of the night.

Odds Presented By Betfred Sportsbook 

Spread- New York Islanders +1.5 (-130) / Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 (+110)

Moneyline- New York Islanders +190 / Toronto Maple Leafs -240

Total- 6.0 – Over (+105) / Under (-125)

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