NHL Odds, Preview: Coyotes vs Panthers Prediction (Wednesday, January 24)

Wednesday, Jan. 24

7 p.m. ET

ESPN+

Coyotes Odds	+176
Panthers Odds	-215
Over / Under	6.5 -106 / -114

Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NHL odds here.

Here's everything you need to know about the Arizona Coyotes vs. Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Jan. 24 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.

The Coyotes have had themselves a pretty solid year — all things considered. With the uncertainty surrounding the franchise, many expected them to teeter towards the bottom of the standings, but here they are with a two-game winning streak in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Prior to winning on Monday, the Panthers lost four games in a row – which is unusual for the defending Eastern Conference champs. Regardless, Florida is a massive threat at any given time, so I wouldn’t take its losing streak that seriously.

Find my Coyotes vs. Panthers prediction and NHL betting preview below.

It goes unnoticed throughout the league, but Clayton Keller needs to be recognized as a superstar. The 25-year-old winger has points in seven of his last eight games. With Nick Bjugstad and Matias Maccelli, the Coyotes' line is one of the more powerful in the NHL. Additionally, Lawson Crouse is starting to emerge as a legitimate scorer as well on the second line.

Even though this season has gone in Arizona’s favor, its 5-on-5 play is quite average. The Yotes are ranked 20th in Expected Goals with a 49.11 xGF% and 24th defensively with a 2.78 xGA/60.

The power play is their bread and butter. Keller and Nick Schmaltz have scored the bulk of their goals, but Arizona scores at a 22.7% clip. On the penalty kill, it gets the job done decently at 79%.

Connor Ingram fully has taken over the net this season in Arizona. In his first full season, Ingram gives the Coyotes the best chance to win as he has played to a .919 SV% and a third-best 15.3 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx). There’s a chance Karel Vejmelka starts, but against a juggernaut in Florida, I think we’ll see Ingram.

Sam Reinhart’s emergence has not been talked about enough. In 46 games, he has scored 34 times, including goals in nine out of his last 10 — which is unbelievable. Along with Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are a power four for the Panthers. It's also encouraging that beyond their scoring, the Panthers have incredible depth as they roll out four lines consistently.

Florida is really solid in all facets of the game, but it really thrives at 5-on-5 play. It ranks second with a 55.28 xGF% but first with a 2.27 xGA/60.

Its play on special teams is good enough. The Panthers score on the power play at a 22% clip, while they succeed on the penalty kill 81.6% of the time.

However, Florida’s goaltending is a glaring problem. Sergei Bobrovsky has a tendency to start the season hot and then come back down to Earth, which he’s doing now. In his last five starts, he’s played to an .854 SV%, and his GSAx keeps falling – which is now at 4.4.

Hockey bettors: North Carolina sports betting will soon be online. Keep up with the latest news here.

Regardless of how things have turned out recently, the Panthers are still the superior team. For a team at their level, losing four games in a row is clearly unacceptable, and coach Paul Maurice should have the boys motivated.

Arizona is a really good team, and I love what coach Andre Tourigny has done to help this team become a playoff contender. Ingram surprised us all in becoming an elite goaltender, and I’d have to imagine he’ll give Florida fits.

Ultimately, I foresee the Panthers coming in extra motivated. If the Panthers win, it will be by a wide margin. I’ll take the Panthers puck line in this bout at -1.5 with +116 odds.

Pick: Florida Panthers -1.5 (+116)

The must-have app for NHL bettors

The best NHL betting scoreboard

Free picks from proven pros

Live win probabilities for your bets

DOWNLOAD NOW