NHL Best Bets (1/4/23): Expert Predictions For Tonight’s Games
Contents
With 13 games in the NHL tonight, there are some electric matchups for bettors to check out. Anthony Elio has a best bet for one of the many January 4th games.
New York Islanders vs. Arizona Coyotes
It seems strange to type, but the Arizona Coyotes are on a tear right now. The team is on a 6-2 run, and while most of the wins have been against lesser competition (no offense, Sharks and Senators fans), a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche definitely stands out. Much of the team’s success this season has to do with the stellar play of goalie Connor Ingram. Following a recent shutout of the Anaheim Ducks, Ingram is now tied with Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry for the most shutouts in the league with 4. Ingram has put up excellent numbers all season long, going 13-7 with a .919 save percentage and 2.49 GAA. This is despite Arizona allowing 31.17 shot attempts per game, the 11th most in the league.
And while Arizona isn’t one of the most threatening offensive teams in the NHL (19th in the league with 3.03 goals per game), Lawson Crouse is having a breakout season with a team-high 16 goals so far, and should top his previous high of 24 sooner rather than later.
The Yotes also happen to be fairly dominant at Mullett Arena. The team is 12-6 in their unique stadium compared to 7-9-2 on the road. Arizona is also hosting a New York Islanders team that’s on a 1-4 road run, including a 5-4 overtime loss to the Avs on Tuesday.
The Islanders overall are on a 3-6 streak, including two losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins by a total of 10-1. Offensively, the team is just ahead of the Coyotes, averaging 3.05 goals per game as Matthew Barzal leads New York with 37 points. Goalie Ilya Sorokin is projected to be between the pipes for the Islanders with Semyon Varlamov dealing with injury. One of the top goalies in the league in recent years, Sorokin ranks 37th in the league with a 3.19 GAA while posting a 11-6-8 record.
With Arizona playing excellent hockey at home with a potential Vezina Trophy competitor in net, I’m taking the value with the Coyotes to get a win over a struggling Islanders team.
Best Bet: Arizona Coyotes Moneyline
Best NHL Sportsbook Promo Codes
