New York Islanders vs Utah Mammoth Betting Picks

This total is too low, given that Bo Horvat is back in the Islanders' lineup. The Mammoth has been more offensive-minded than anticipated, and neither team's top goalie is expected to play. Horvat leads the Islanders in points and goals. He missed five games in December due to a lower-body injury. Utah is averaging three goals a game. The Mammoth have produced three or more goals in six of their last nine games. Karel Vejmelka is Utah's top goalie, and he has been out with an upper-body injury. He has a 2.70 GAA and .896 SV%. Vitek Vanecek is projected to start in net for the Mammoth. He has a 2.92 GAA and .879 SV%. Ilya Sorokin is New York's best goalie. He's missed four straight games with a lower-body injury. Back-up goalie David Rittich is expected to start for the Islanders. Take Utah to grab a win, and bet the OVER. 

Utah won the first meeting 5-4 in overtime in October and it comes off a 2-1 win over San Jose on Friday night. Barrett Hayton scored with 1:32 left to break a 1-all tie, and Karel Vejmelka stopped 19 shots. Connor Ingram is probably in the Utah net for this game. New York has lost four straight playing on one day of rest, and the Islanders have lost six of 10 overall, although they surprised Vegas on Thursday with a 4-0 win over the Golden Knights. New York still has lost nine of 13 road games and 10 of 15 against Western Conference teams. The Utah franchise has won eight of 11 versus the Metropolitan Division. Take the Utah Hockey Club.

Utah got a 5-2 win over Chicago in its first game. That was at home and now they take a long road trip to the East Coast. The New York Islanders are in action for the first time tonight. They went 21-10-10 at home last year, and that was after a slow start. New York was 6-1 at home in April and come into this year with all of intentions of re-establishing that home ice advantage. They upgraded the offense with forward Anthony Duclair and Kontinental Hockey League forward Maxim Tsyplakov. The defense was seventh in save percentage last season (.911). They've won nine of the last 10 versus Arizona/Utah at home and hold all the cards. Play New York.