Vegas Golden Knights vs. N.Y. Islanders Prediction, Preview, and Odds
Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas - Championship Sunday
The Vegas Golden Knights face the New York Islanders with both teams heading in opposite directions heading into the All-Star break. The Golden Knights have a 29-17-3 record and are near the top of the Pacific Division while the Islanders have a 23-22-5 record and with a 2-8-3 record in January have fallen to the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. Both teams are looking to improve in their divisions and the upcoming game should be a good one as a result.
Golden Knights have looked great on both ends of the ice
The Golden Knights are having a great season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.16 goals per game. Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson have scored 26 goals and 51 assists to lead the top line but the rest of the offense has been great as well. William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, and Jonathan Marchessault have combined for 44 goals and 53 assists while defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has added five goals and 26 assists from the point to help open up the offense.
The offense has been great but the defense has also stepped up, allowing only 2.88 goals per game. Brayden McNabb and Alec Martinez have combined for 5.5 defensive point shares and 257 blocked shots while Alex Pietrangelo, Nicolas Hague, and Ben Hutton have combined for 4.5 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. In addition, goaltender Logan Thompson is having a great season with a .912 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average on 1031 shots.
Islanders offense has unraveled
The Islanders' season has fallen apart with their offense letting them down, scoring only 2.88 goals per game with only 1.92 goals per game in January. Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal, and Anders Lee have scored 46 goals and 72 assists but the rest of the offense has been awful. Only seven active skaters have seven goals or more and opponents can eliminate the hapless offense as a result.
The offense has been awful but the defense has stepped up, allowing only 2.80 goals per game. Ryan Pulock and Alexander Romanov have combined for 5.4 defensive point shares and 176 blocked shots while Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, and Sebastian Aho have combined for 6.3 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. In addition, goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been great with a .912 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average on 464 shots.
Best Bets for this Game
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The Islanders are looking to end a difficult month on a high note but the Golden Knights look to step up and dominate this game on both ends of the ice. The Golden Knights, who average 3.16 goals per game, should constantly find the back of the net with Chandler Stephenson, Jack Eichel, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. The Golden Knights should limit an Islanders offense that is averaging only 2.88 goals per game with Brayden McNabb, Alec Martinez, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Logan Thompson to make plenty of big saves. The Golden Knights should win the game with a strong performance on the road.
Take the Golden Knights money line as road Favorites.
Prediction: Golden Knights (-110)
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Both teams have great defenses and the upcoming game should reflect that with both defensive units stepping up and controlling the game from the opening puck drop. The Islanders, who allow only 2.80 goals per game, should limit the Golden Knights' offense with Ryan Pulock, Alexander Romanov, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Ilya Sorokin to make plenty of big saves. The Golden Knights, who allow only 2.88 goals per game, should eliminate and potentially shut out the Islanders, who are averaging only 1.92 goals per game in January, with Brayden McNabb, Alec Martinez, Alex Pietrangelo, and the rest of the defensive unit forcing turnovers in the neutral zone and defensive zone while goaltender Logan Thompson blanks the shots on the net. The Under should cover in a low-scoring game controlled by both defenses.
Take the Under on 6 goals.
Prediction: Under 6
Mike Fink is a sports writer and a passionate football fan. After graduating from college, Fink picked up the passion he had since being a young child in following and covering all things sports and we are very excited to have him as a part of the StatSalt team. In recent weeks, Mike started a podcast which you can find on Spotify, called "The Mike and Grover Show" and it discusses all things football. He covers all forms of sports betting and also bets on all of the plays he gives out. Mike would advise hockey betting since the odds give you great payouts "Hockey is built to bet the Money Line Underdogs. Be sure and follow him on a daily basis.
