Coyotes vs Islanders Odds
| Coyotes Odds | +152 |
| Islanders Odds | -184 |
| Over / Under | 5.5 -122o/ +100u |
The Metropolitan Division's New York Islanders host the Central Division's Arizona Coyotes in one of the earlier games on Tuesday's NHL slate.
Low-scoring affairs are typically in store when these two clubs meet. there have been six or fewer total goals scored in eight of the past nine meetings.
Will we see another low-scoring game on Tuesday, or can the goals pick up this time?
Here's a look at the Coyotes vs Islanders odds, as well as my betting pick and prediction.
Arizona Coyotes
Outside of Clayton Keller, the brightest spot during these few dark years for the Coyotes has been the emergence of goaltender Karel Vejmelka.
His .899 SV% through two seasons with Arizona does not accurately paint the picture of how strong he's looked between the pipes; that number is much more a product of the defense in front of him. Last year, Keller finished ninth among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60).
His success continued into this year's season opener when Vejmelka stopped 33 of 36 pucks for a .917 SV% en route to Arizona's big upset victory on the road over the New Jersey Devils.
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The team in front of Vejmelka is the best it's been (which is not saying a whole lot) since he got there, which will take some of the pressure off him this season.
However, the Yotes still have a long ways to go. After four goals in the opener against New Jersey, they scored just once in a 2-1 loss to the Rangers on Monday.
Last season, Arizona finished fourth-to-last in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5.
New York Islanders
You can't talk about goaltending in the NHL without talking about how Ilya Sorokin carries an otherwise average and boring Islanders team each and every year.
They typically finish around the league average in both xGF/60 and expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5, but they usually remain in the playoff picture because of the consistent Vezina-worthy goaltending of Sorokin.
Because of the heavy workload that the Islanders put Sorokin through, it's hard to believe he's only been in the league since the 2020-21 season. He has a SV% of .918 or better in all three of his years in the league, finishing sixth in the Vezina voting in 2021-22 and runner-up last season.
Sorokin even got Hart Trophy votes last year. Among starting goaltenders, he ranked third in GSAx/60.
Like Vejmelka, Sorokin got off to a good start this season, stopping 26 of 28 shots against a high-powered Buffalo Sabres offense en route to a 3-2 win.
If he can hold Buffalo to two goals, he can do the same to Arizona.
Coyotes vs. Islanders
Betting Pick & Prediction
I think DraftKings is hanging a bad line here with plus-money on the under at six. For comparison, FanDuel has -122 on the same line.
If you are unable to get this line before it moves (assuming it does), I would still play the Under at 5.5 if you can get it at plus money. These are two very strong goaltenders and two offenses that should not instill much fear into opposing blue lines.
Add in the trend I mentioned in the opening (six or fewer goals in eight of the past nine meetings between these two teams) and we should expect another ugly game.
Pick: Under 6 (+100 at DraftKings)
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