New York Islanders (0-0) vs Utah Hockey Club (1-0)
Game Info: Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 7:30 pm (UBS Arena)
The Line: Betting Odds: New York Islanders -155 / Utah Hockey Club +130 — Over/Under: 5.5
The Utah Hockey Club and New York Islanders meet Thursday in NHL action at the UBS Arena. Here’s a Utah Hockey Club vs New York Islanders Prediction. This article will include a Utah Hockey Club vs New York Islanders Pick.
Utah Hockey Club Betting Preview
The Utah Hockey Club beat the Blackhawks in their season opener, and they play the Rangers and Devils next. The Utah Hockey Club is averaging 5 goals per game and is scoring on 0 percent of their power play opportunities. Dylan Guenther leads Utah with 2 goals, Nick Schmaltz has 2 assists and Logan Cooley has 3 shots on goal. Defensively, the Utah Hockey Club are allowing 2 goals per game and are killing 100 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Connor Hellebuyck has given up 2 goals on 26 shots faced.
New York Islanders Betting Preview
The New York Islanders are coming off 39 wins and have made the playoffs in 5 of the last 6 seasons. However, the Islanders are looking for their first playoff series win since the 2020-21 season.
The Islanders are nearly the exact same team they were a year ago, as they added Anthony Duclair and lost Sebastian Aho. That could be a good thing, as adding Duclair to Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat has real potential. It could also create more of the same, as the Islanders struggled to find offense last season, as they were 22nd in goals per game and 19th in shots on goal. We’re also waiting to see Ilya Sorokin get healthy, as there’s yet to be a season he hasn’t missed a chunk of time. The Islanders are well-coached, play hard, and are usually solid defensively. The offense has to get a shot in the arm if this season will be different than the last. The Islanders will meet the Stars after this game.
Why the Utah Hockey Club will win
- The Islanders have lost four of their last five games.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in 10 of the Islanders’ last 11 games at UBS Arena.
- The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last seven games as home favorites.
- The road team has won the first period in three of the Islanders’ last four games.
New York Islanders Player Prop Facts
- Bo Horvat has scored a goal in four of the Islanders’ last five games as favorites against Central Division opponents.
- Mathew Barzal has recorded at least one assist in four of the Islanders’ last five home games against Central Division opponents.
- Kyle Palmieri has recorded a point in each of the Islanders’ last eight Thursday night home games.
Utah Hockey Club Player Prop Facts
- Nick Schmaltz has recorded at least one assist in each of his last four appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Sean Durzi has recorded a point in each of his last five appearances.
- Nick Bjugstad has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances with his team as an underdog.
- Nick Schmaltz ranks T1st in the league for multi-point game (1) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Utah Hockey Club rank T6th in the league for goals per game this season (5.00).
- Utah Hockey Club rank T1st in the league for power-play goals against this season (0).
Utah Hockey Club vs New York Islanders Prediction
Let’s pump the brakes a bit on the Utah Hockey Club, as they beat a Blackhawks side that’s still trying to find an identity. However, there’s value in getting plus money with a team that has a game under the belt. Utah has had a chance to get in the swing of things and knock the rust off, while the Islanders have yet to take the ice. The Islanders in the big favorite role is also risky until the offense shows improvement. I’ll take a stab with the Utah Hockey Club and the plus money.