The New York Islanders secured a narrow 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, marking their eighth win in nine games. Brock Nelson scored the decisive goal in the third period while Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves, further establishing himself as a key player for the Islanders. The win improves the Islanders' record to 11-3-0 since January 5, and Nelson, netting his 16th goal, was supported by assists from Alexander Romanov and Tony DeAngelo.

Bo Horvat also contributed with a goal in the first period, his 19th of the season. Despite a solid performance, the Golden Knights struggled, with Brandon Saad managing to score but ultimately falling short. The loss extends Vegas's losing streak to four games, now 12-11-3 on the road.

Connor Brown secured a thrilling victory for the Edmonton Oilers, scoring a dramatic overtime goal to seal a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. This victory marked the Oilers' fourth win in their last six games, with superstar Connor McDavid contributing a goal and two assists. Leon Draisaitl also shined, netting one goal and providing crucial support. In a tight contest, the Blues struggled, suffering their fifth loss in six matches despite goals from Jordan Kyrou and Colton Parayko. Goaltender Jordan Binnington faced a barrage of shots, making 35 saves but ultimately could not prevent the Oilers' offense from breaking through.

Edmonton's momentum surged as McDavid opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the second period. However, the Blues responded with a power-play equalizer from Kyrou in the third period. Parayko then gave St. Louis a brief lead, but Draisaitl's late goal sent the game into overtime. Brown's decisive one-timer from McDavid in the extra period delivered the win, underscoring the Oilers' determination and resilience.

In a thrilling overtime match, Connor Brown netted the decisive goal to secure a 3-2 victory for the Edmonton Oilers against the St. Louis Blues. Connor McDavid shone with a goal and two assists, while Leon Draisaitl contributed with a goal and an assist.

The Oilers took an early advantage with McDavid's power play goal in the second period, but the Blues fought back as Jordan Kyrou and Colton Parayko scored to briefly hold the lead. However, Draisaitl’s late game-tying goal set the stage for Brown’s overtime heroics.

Stuart Skinner made a significant impact in goal for Edmonton, making 20 saves, while Jordan Binnington stopped 35 shots for St. Louis, which has struggled recently, marking their fifth loss in six games.

Goaltending is often seen as a crucial element in hockey, yet sportsbooks appear to miscalculate its influence on game outcomes. For instance, the Edmonton Oilers have shown inconsistency in performance when Stuart Skinner starts, achieving only a 16-16 record as favorites, and a dismal 9-23 against the spread. Conversely, Calvin Pickard, Skinner's backup, leads the Oilers to a 12-3 record on the moneyline when he takes the lead, suggesting a significant misvaluation of Skinner's impact on betting lines.

The findings indicate that betting against the Oilers when Skinner is in net could be a savvy strategy, as the team has only covered three times when underdogs with him starting. As the Oilers prepare to face the St. Louis Blues, the decision on which goaltender to deploy could have a substantial betting implication.

Niko Mikkola's journey in the NHL has seen significant development since his selection by the St. Louis Blues in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After four productive seasons with the Blues, where he accumulated 20 points and showcased his physicality with 259 hits over 139 games, Mikkola transitioned to the New York Rangers during the 2022-2023 season. Following a brief rental period, he signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Florida Panthers, marking a new chapter in his career.

In his inaugural season with the Panthers, Mikkola set a career high with 17 points and maintained a strong defensive presence with 124 blocked shots and 198 hits. The current season has seen him elevate his game further, having already tied last season's point total in just 49 games played. Mikkola's impressive plus-11 rating and robust defensive play have earned him a position in the Panthers' top four defensemen, further solidifying his role on the penalty kill unit.