Alright, the New York Islanders are squaring off against the Calgary Flames, and this one's shaping up to be a frisky dance on ice, so let's dig into the nitty-gritty here.
Behind the sticks for the Islanders, we've got Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov. Sorokin has been packing more net coverage lately with a 91.2 save percentage this season, a stitch above Varlamov's 89.1 save percentage. For the Flames, they're flaunting Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar, with Wolf slightly out foxing his puck-stopping partner with a slick 92.1 save percentage this season.
Now let's talk dispersing the biscuit. For the Islanders, Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee have been walloping the scoreboards, each with 7 goals under their belts this season. Bo Horvat and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, despite not racking up quite as many goals, still contribute with their well-rounded prowess.
The Flames are stoking the scoring fire with the likes of Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman leading their ranks, each with 4 goals to their names this season. However, it's Matt Coronato who has really turned up the heat with a total of 5 goals this season, even if his assists are a bit lighter.
When it comes to past meetings between these two squads, Calgary has got the upper hand, triumphing in 2 of the last 3 matchups.
Regular season records, eh? Well, as I take a sip from my ginormous coffee mug, I see that the Flames have been a tad hotter this season with a 9-3-6 record, slightly toasting past the Islanders' 7-4-7.
Now, if we have a peek at recent results, the Islanders have been less than stellar with 2 wins in their last 5, whereas the Flames have kept the embers alight with 3 victories in their last 5 outings.
So, putting all the aces on the table, I firmly stand by the forecast that the Flames are more likely to come out on top, with their solid goalkeeping, consistent top-player performance, and better recent form.
Albert’s Prediction: Calgary Flames by 2
