Islanders vs Mammoth Prediction 1/1/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article we will formulate an Islanders vs Mammoth prediction for this NHL game on Thursday, January 1st at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

New York Islanders Betting Preview

The New York Islanders are 22-14-4 this season after they defeated Chicago in a shootout by a score of 3-2 in their last game. New York led 2-0 in the first period, but they blew the lead in the second, before getting the win in a shootout. The Islanders out shot Chicago by a total of 21-19, won 54.0% of the face-offs, and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. New York got goals from Horvat and Ritchie, while Rittich stopped 17 out of 19 shots, which was an .895 save percentage. 

Prior to that game, New York lost to the Blue Jackets by a score of 4-2, but did beat the Rangers by a score of 2-0 before that. The Islanders have won three of their last four games and they are currently second in the Metro standings with 48 points. New York has scored 2.75 goals per game and they have allowed 2.65 goals against per game, while also going 15.9% on the power play and 82.1% on the penalty kill this season. Bo Horvat has led New York with 21 goals and 12 assists, while Mathew Barzal has added 10 goals and 20 assists. The projected starting goalie for New York is David Rittich, who is 10-4-2 with a 2.27 goals against average and a .918 save percentage this season. 

Utah Mammoth Betting Preview

The Utah Mammoth are 18-19-3 this year after they lost to Nashville by a score of 4-3 in their last game. Utah led 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2, but they allowed the last two goals in the game for the loss. The Mammoth out shot Nashville by a total of 31-26, won 52.9% of the face-offs, and went 1-4 on the power play in the game. Utah got goals from Guenther, Peterka, and Sergachev, while Vanecek stopped 22 out of 26 shots, which was an .846 save percentage. 

Prior to that game, Utah lost to the Avalanche by a score of 1-0, but did beat the Jets by a score of 4-3 before that. The Mammoth have lost three of their last four games and they are currently fifth in the Central standings with 39 points. Utah has scored 2.98 goals per game and they have allowed 2.90 goals against per game, while also going 15.4% on the power play and 82.3% on the penalty kill this season. Nick Schmaltz has led Utah with 12 goals and 21 assists, while Clayton Keller has also added 12 goals and 21 assists. The projected starting goalie for Utah is Vitek Vanecek, who is 2-9-1 with a 2.92 goals against average and an .879 save percentage this year. 

Why the New York Islanders will win

• The home team has won nine of the Islanders’ last 11 games.
• The Mammoth have lost nine of their last 10 games as underdogs.
• The Mammoth have failed to cover the puck line in 12 of their last 13 games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Islanders have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight home games.
• The Mammoth have lost the third period in each of their last six games against Metropolitan Division opponents when leading after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Islanders’ last eight Thursday games as home favorites have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Mammoth’s last eight games following a loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Mammoth’s last nine day games.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Islanders’ last eight Thursday games.

New York Islanders Player Prop Facts

• Anders Lee has scored at least one goal in each of the Islanders’ last three games as home favorites.
• Mathew Barzal has recorded an assist in each of his last four appearances with the Islanders as home favorites against Central Division opponents.

Utah Mammoth Player Prop Facts

• JJ Peterka has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances with his team as an underdog against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Dylan Guenther has recorded an assist in each of his last four appearances with the Mammoth as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• The New York Islanders rank T5th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.65).
• The New York Islanders rank 28th in the league in power play percentage this season (15.87%).
• Utah Mammoth rank 30th in the league in power play percentage this season (15.38%).
• Utah Mammoth rank 8th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.30%).

Islanders vs Mammoth Prediction 

New York comes into this matchup after winning three of their last four games and they have allowed two regulation goals or fewer in four of their last five. The Islanders are 12-7-2 at home this year, while the Mammoth are 9-12-2 on the road. Utah has lost three of their last four games and just lost their starting goalie to injury. The Mammoth have had issues on the road and I don’t trust Vanecek in net, so give me the Islanders here.