The New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild are slated to face off on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Xcel Energy Center at 6.00 p.m. ET. The Islanders continuing its four-game road trip as Minnesota seeks to end its four-game losing streak.
The Islanders boast an impressive record against the Wild, securing victory on 19 occasions out of their past 32 encounters. However, Minnesota has also shown improvements in recent years, potentially posing a formidable challenge to New York. For the upcoming match against the Islanders, Minnesota is favored to win.
Current form and standings
In terms of statistical performance, the Minnesota Wild and the New York Islanders present interesting dynamics on the ice.
The New York Islanders (19-13-10) currently hold the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division. They have won four of their last ten games, performing with a strong offensive output and solid defense.
The Minnesota Wild (17-20-5), on the other hand, are second to last in the Western Conference's Central Division. They haven’t been in their most excellent form, winning only two of their last ten games.
In terms of defense, the Islanders ranks 21st in the NHL, exhibiting a solid defensive front but conceding an average of 3.3 goals per game. In comparison, the Wild currently ranks 24th with an average of 3.4 conceded goals per game.
On the offensive front, the Islanders, standing 19th in the league, score an average of 3.0 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild ranks 27th with an average of 2.8 goals per game.
When considering goal differentials, the Wild finds itself at the 26th spot in the league with a goal differential of -24, while the Islanders are situated at 22nd with a goal differential of -11.
Players to watch out for
Several key players will be worth keeping an eye on for both teams. For Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov stands out as the leading contributor with 34 points, comprising 13 goals and 21 assists. Mats Zuccarello, with six goals and 24 assists in 33 games, is another key player, along with Joel Eriksson Ek, who has scored 15 goals and added 13 assists over 42 games.
Throughout the regular season, Minnesota’s goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has conceded 62 goals with a 3.12 goals-against average, making 518 saves and a save percentage of .893.
For the Islanders, Mathew Barzal leads with 45 total points, consisting of 12 goals and 33 assists over 41 games. Noah Dobson emerges as a top offensive contributor with 43 total points, scoring seven goals and providing 36 assists in 42 games. Bo Horvat has also showcased his goal-scoring capabilities with 17 goals and 23 assists.
In the goaltending department, New York’s Semyon Varlamov has made 392 saves, conceding 35 goals with a 2.8 goals-against average and boasting a .918 save percentage, ranking 12th in the league this season.
Injury update & conclusion
Both teams are currently grappling with a list of sidelined and injured players, with the Wild missing players such as Caedan Bankier, Jonas Brodin, Sam Hentges, Vinni Lettieri, and Jared Spurgeon. Meanwhile, the Islanders are set to enter the match without Semyon Varlamov, Casey Cizikas, Ryan Pulock, and Robert Bortuzzo.
The upcoming game is shaping up to be an exciting encounter between two strong teams in the NHL. While the Islanders have historically had the upper hand, Minnesota's recent form and improved offensive capacity make for a closely contested match.
