Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the New York Islanders taking on the Montreal Canadiens. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2024-25 season.

NHL Predictions

New York Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens

Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

TV Schedule: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+

This matchup features two Eastern Conference opponents in the heat of the Wild Card race as the season come down the stretch. The Islanders are fifth in the Metropolitan Division through 67 games played. Their record stands at 31-28-3 good for 70 points just three back of the last wild card spot. The Canadiens are the ones holding down that spot currently with 73 points. They sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 33-27-7 record after 67 games played. This is the third and final matchup between these two this season. So far, they have split the first two games. The Canadiens taking the most recent one 2-1 in a shootout north of the border inside the Bell Centre. This final meeting will take place on Long Island inside UBS Arena.

The Islanders Story

For the Islanders they come into this game after snapping their three-game losing streak. They did so by starting up a little two-game winning streak. The two wins came in the same fashion, going to the third down 2-0 and coming back to win 4-2 both times. Those were against one of the league’s best in the Florida Panthers. The most recent was against the hated rival Pittsburgh Penguins. These comebacks were led by the unsuspecting players in the lineup. Pierre Engvall nabbing points in both games, including the game winner against the Penguins. Simon Holmstrom scored goals in both games as well. Even the blueline chipped into these games too, Noah Dobson producing three points including two goals in the last two games. For the 26th ranked offence in the league at just 2.70 goals per game, they’ll take offence from wherever they can get it.

Defensively is where things get a little better for this group. In each of the last three games they haven’t allowed more than two goals. For the season they are middle of the pack, sitting 16th in goals-against per game at 2.94. 16th is also where they sit in terms of allowing high danger shots with 138 against on the year. What’s impressive is they’ve stayed in the middle while having the 31st ranked penalty kill in the league at 71.2%. However, goaltender Ilya Sorokin deserves the bulk of that credit, this team goes as he goes. In his last nine outings he has been lights out recording a 6-2-1 record with a .923 SV% and only 21 goals allowed. The season long numbers are solid as well. He holds a 26-20-5 record with a .906 SV% and a 2.72 GAA.

The Canadiens Story

Montreal comes into this game playing well and on a two-game winning streak of their own. Over their last 10 games they are 7-1-2 and have played themselves into a playoff spot. Their 14th ranked offence at 3.00 goals per game has been heating up recently. In seven of those last 10 games, they have scored four goals or more. Montreal is led by Nick Suzuki and his team leading 70 points in 67 games. He has three goals and seven assists just in the month of March. His linemates and he have carried the load offensively for this group. Flanked by Cole Caufield who has 33 goals on the season and has recorded at least one point in eight of his last 10 games. On the other flank 20-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky has been locked in as well. Since the 4 Nations break, he has six goals and five assists in his last 11 games. They are a dangerous trio and have been on fire as of late.

Defensively the Canadiens are not as strong. Despite having the eighth-ranked penalty kill at 81.7%, they still rank 25th in goals against on the season with 3.24 per game. A big reason for that is they allow a lot of quality chances. They have given up the second most high-danger chances with 176 against. However, their goaltender Sam Montembeault has covered up that weakness. He has been unreal since play resumed from the 4 Nations tournament. Over his last eight starts, he hasn’t taken a regulation loss. He boasts a 7-0-1 record with a .922 SV% and a 2.09 GAA. This surge has given him his first 25-win campaign and has pushed the Habs into a playoff position.

NHL Predictions

Both teams have been playing well coming into this matchup. The two sides also seem to be pretty evenly matched on paper. Montreal holding advantages offensively and on special teams. While the Islanders have defensive and goaltending advantages. With a massive two points on the line, the home ice could be the advantage that tips the scales. That is held by the Islanders, so we think they come away with the win in this one.

Prediction: Islanders win 4-3

Prop Bets

Popular sports books have the Islanders as the favourites at -128. We like that line in this game. The over/under is set at 5.5. The Islanders have scored four goals in back-to-back games. The Canadiens have one of the strongest top lines in the league and they have been clicking. For these reasons we like the over at -110. As far as anytime goal scorers for the Islanders take Kyle Palmieri at +190. Coming off a three-point game look for him to keep it rolling in this one. For the Canadiens, take Nick Suzuki at +220. He is having a career year and solidifying himself as one of the top centres in the league. Coming off a goal in his last game a well, look for him to light the lamp again in this game.

Main Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

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Welcome back to NHL Predictions here on Last Word on Hockey! Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for all NHL games. In today’s matchup, the Pittsburgh Penguins play the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena. Both teams are in an in-between space, seemingly too far out of the playoff picture and not low enough for a top-five pick. This game will be important for both teams to give their rosters more experience approaching the end of the season.

NHL Predictions

New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Head-to-Head: Islanders lead 2-1​

Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)​

TV: ESPN+​, Sportsnet+.

This will be the fourth and final meeting between these teams this season. The Islanders won the first two meetings 4-3 and 6-3 before the Penguins took the third meeting 3-2.

The Penguins’ Story

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four straight games coming into this contest. With this run, the team holds a 28-31-10 record. The Penguins have improved to ninth-last in the league with this streak, six points out of a playoff spot. Pittsburgh has received contributions from new additions during this run and has begun to set up next season well by jockeying players into positions they can play in starting a new season.

Captain Sidney Crosby and the top line have continued to stay hot. Crosby has 73 points in 67 games, well on his way to a 20^th straight point per game season. Rickard Rakell has improved to a high of 31 goals with the Penguins this season, with 59 points overall. New additions Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins have been standouts in recent games. Dewar has already equalled his points total with the Leafs in 28 fewer games, scoring three goals in four games with the Penguins. Timmins meanwhile, has scored a goal and two assists from the blueline, playing an effective third-pair right-defence role behind Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang. Contributions from new additions like these two and Tommy Novak will be key to continuing the Penguins win streak.

The Islanders’ Story

Going 5-4-1 in their last 10, the New York Islanders have a 30-28-8 record on the season. This places them two points ahead of the Penguins and four points behind the New York Rangers for the final wildcard spot. The Islanders are in a middle space, unsure if they’re rebuilding or competing for the playoffs. As such, this game is crucial for the Islanders, with the gap between them and other teams in the playoff hunt potentially widening if the Islanders falter.

Scoring has been hard to come by for the Islanders. The defensively inclined team is led by Captain Anders Lee in scoring. Lee has 25 goals and 46 points in 66 games. A key subtraction from the Islanders is star forward Mathew Barzal. Barzal had scored 6 goals and 20 points in 30 games prior to suffering a long-term injury. With this absence, the Islanders have only seen three players eclipse 40 points to this point of the season. High-end scoring has been an issue for New York, and the Penguins could potentially take advantage if goaltender Tristan Jarry can continue his excellent play as of late.

NHL Prediction

The Pittsburgh Penguins are rolling. Even with the playoffs reasonably being out of reach, the team benefits largely from players like Rakell, Timmins, Dewar and Jarry playing well. Expect Pittsburgh to increase their win streak to five games.

NHL Prediction: Penguins win 4-2.​

Prop Bet for the Night

Total Goals Over 5 (-290): The Penguins offence is soaring. Expect a high-scoring affair in this one.

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Main Photo: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the New York Islanders taking on the Florida Panthers. Finally, be sure to check out more predictions for all the NHL’s games throughout the 2024-25 season.

NHL Predictions

New York Islanders versus Florida Panthers

Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight time)

TV: ESPN+, SCRIPPS, MSGSN

This matchup features two Eastern Conference opponents having opposite seasons going head-to-head. The Islanders sit sixth in the Metroplitan Division through 65 games played this season. Their record is 29-28-8 in those game which has them at 66 points. Meanwhile, the Panthers stand atop the Atlantic Division. In 67 games played their record is 41-23-3, good for 85 points. This will be the third and final meeting between these two this season. The Panthers have taken the first two games, with one in Florida and one on Long Island. This last matchup will be inside UBS Arena on Long Island where the Islanders will look to avoid getting swept this season series.

The Islanders Story

It has been a rough go as of late for the Islanders, losing their last three games. However, this can’t be too shocking as they elected to sell at this year’s trade deadline. Their most recent defeat came in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It has been a struggle for them to produce anything on offence since they traded Brock Nelson away. They have scored only one goal in each of the last three games. This cold stretch has them ranked 30th in the NHL in goals with 173 on the season. Besides trading arguably their best goal scorer, the power play has been nonexistent all season. That unit has ranked near the bottom all season, currently in dead last at 11.7%.

Defensively this team has ranked in the middle of the pack all season. That is where they continue to be now as well, ranked 16th in goals against on the season with 193. Although it is hard to keep the opponent off the scoresheet when your team provides little to no goal support. This trend has left Ilya Sorokin out to dry recently. He has dropped his last two starts but has been better than the record indicates. In his last four appearances, he is 2-1-1 with a 9.33 save percentage and 2.25 goals-against average. The season long numbers are good too despite the team in front of him. He is 24-20-5 with a .906 SV% and a 2.75 GAA.

The Panthers Story

This game will be the second of a back-to-back for the Panthers. They have been playing good hockey coming into this game winning seven of their last 10. However, the lost their game last night 3-1 against the Montreal Canadiens. The offence has been a big reason for their success this season. Scoring three or more goals in six of the last 10. With the 10th ranked power play in the league at 23.9%. They rank seventh in goals this season with 214. Led by team point leader on the top line, Sam Reinhart he has 70 in 67 games, he has six points over his last five games. Mackie Samoskevich has been playing well as of late in their top six. The 22-year-old scored last night and now has five goals and three assists over his last nine games.

The Panthers also sport an elite defence to go along with their offence. Ranking ninth in goals against with 180 on the season. Allowing only more than three goals just twice during the last 10 games. They do this with an effective penalty kill that ranks 11th in the league at 80.9%. Moreover, they do a good job at limiting high danger with 119 against, ninth in the league. Perhaps the most important reason for their good goals against numbers is elite goaltending. Starter Sergei Bobrovsky is 28-15-2 with a .906 SV% and a 2.51 GAA. With Bobrovsky starting last night the Panthers will turn to Vitek  Vaněček. After posting career lows with the Sharks, he recorded a 21 save shutout in his first start with Florida.

NHL Predictions

In this matchup Florida holds every advantage, from offence to defence to special teams. They are the defending champions and among the leagues elite teams. The only advantages the Islanders have is their goalie because the Panthers starter won’t play. Also the fact that they are rested while the Panthers are on a back-to-back. However with these teams trending in opposite directions that rest and goalie advantage will not matter. With the loss last night, the Islanders present the perfect matchup for Florida to get back in the win column.

Prediction: Panthers win 4-2

Prop Bets

Popular sports books have the Panthers as rightful favourites. You can take their money line at -152 and feel good about it. The over/under is set at 5.5, with the elite Panthers offence and their backup goalie in. We like the over at -128. As far as anytime goal scorers, for the Islanders take Bo Horvat at +200. He scored in the last game and with he and the team struggling, the team needs him to do better more consistently. For the Panthers take Mackie Samoskevich at +260. He has been hot as of late and scored just last night so look for him to do it again.

Main Photo: Jasen Vinlove – Imagn Images

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Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in key head-to-head matchups. Today, we preview the New York Islanders vs Anaheim Ducks. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.

NHL Predictions

New York Islanders vs Anaheim Ducks

Head to Head: Islanders 0 – 1 Ducks

Time: 9:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

TV: Victory+; MSGSN; KCOP-13; ESPN+

The Ducks (27-28-7) host the New York Islanders (29-26-7) at Honda Center in Anaheim, California on March 9th. This is the second of two meetings this season between the interconference opponents. However, these two teams haven’t seen each other since game nine of the season back in October. Anaheim won the first matchup on Long Island thanks to another stellar goaltending performance. Lukas Dostal made 40 saves, including 17 in the third period, en route to a 3 – 1 Ducks victory. Both teams are battling recent inconsistent play and need to start winning streaks. The storyline here is two teams fighting for critical points and keeping their wild card playoff spot hopes alive. The other, equally serious storyline, is these two teams were involved in a blockbuster trade at the deadline. The Ducks received Islanders depth defender Oliver Kylington for Ducks’ stalwart, future considerations.

Anaheim Ducks Running Out of Race Track

The Ducks are dropping points they cannot afford to. General manager Pat Verbeek talked about the Ducks’ schedule down the stretch on a recent episode of The Beeker podcast. He addressed the team and told them about a similar situation he was in when he played for the New Jersey Devils. Verbeek also emphasized that the Ducks will face the teams they are chasing a number of times down the stretch. Well, they squandered two of those opportunities over their previous two games against Vancouver and St. Louis. Now, the Ducks have some serious ground to make up and may need to string together at least eight or nine wins over their next ten games, just like Verbeek’s Devils team did.  

Frank Vatrano leads the team with six points and four assists in the previous five games and leads the team with 19 goals this season. After not losing in regulation when scoring three or more goals all season, the Ducks have done just that twice in their previous four games. (Although they were literally one second from forcing overtime against St. Louis on Friday night). Still, they are an impressive 23-3-3 this season when hitting that mark. Less impressively, over their previous 10 games, the Ducks are 5-4-1. Whether they make the playoffs or not, being in the fight for a playoff spot will be great experience for this young team. 

John Gibson is out injured… again. With that, recent acquisition Ville Husso was recalled from San Diego. Even so, it’s difficult to imagine Lukas Dostal not playing every game that is not a back-to-back until the Ducks are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Dostal is posting a 2.88 goals-against average and .910 save percentage this season. 

New York Islanders in the Uncertain Middle-Ground

This will only be the Islanders second game since moving on from franchise centrepiece Brock Nelson. The Islanders seemed to play the role of sellers at the deadline, despite being only a few games out of a wild card spot. It remains to be seen who will fill the emotional and productivity void left by Nelson. The obvious choice might be Mathew Barzal, but he’s been out of the lineup since early February after undergoing a procedure on his knee. The Isles are expecting him back later this month. Over their last 10 games, the Islanders are 5-5-0 Scoring has been an issue all season. Coming off a big game last night, Jean-Gabriel Pageau leads the team with four assists and six points in his previous five games.

Like the Ducks, the Islanders struggle in most of the major offensive and defensive team statistics. However, there is one outlier. The Islanders are the number one faceoff team in the league. The Ducks? Dead last. In tight-checking games that are common down the stretch, one faceoff can be the difference in the game. Another difference-maker this time of year, when the games begin to feel like playoff games, is the goaltender. The Islanders happen to have one of the best in the league. Ilya Sorokin is as steady as they come in net. However, he did start and get the win against San Jose last night, so the Islanders goaltending situation will be interesting to monitor leading up to this one. Jakub Skarek was the backup against San Jose, but Marcus Hogberg has been practicing. The starter may become clear after morning skate.

Prediction

The last two predictions were quite a bit off, so we’re going to get back to playing our game. Solid, simple hockey. This  should be a tight, grind-it-out game. New York’s faceoff dominance (54.9%) will give them early puck control, but with Mat Barzal still out and their league-worst power play (11.8%), offence won’t come easy. Expect Frank Vatrano or Mason McTavish to pounce on a defensive miscue and give Anaheim an early edge, but the Isles will claw back, likely off a net-front scramble from Anders Lee. With both teams struggling to score, Lukas Dostal will have to outduel Ilya Sorokin, especially in a third period that could feel like a chess match. If it heads to OT, Trevor Zegras’ creativity could be the difference, using the extra space to make something happen.

Prediction: Ducks win 3 – 2 (OT)

Prop Bets of the Night

We close out our NHL Prediction for the New York Islanders vs Anaheim Ducks with some of our preferred prop bets of the night. Troy Terry is creating offense and is due for a goal. His anytime goal odds are +220. Former Ducks usually have solid games against Anaheim, so consider Kyle Palmieri anytime goal as well (+200). Season record (11-22). 

Note: Always check the latest team news and player statuses before placing any bets, as injuries and other factors can influence game outcomes.

Main Photo Credit: Perry Nelson – Imagn Images

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It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. All of the smoke has settled from Friday’s trade deadline. However, there is still plenty to talk about in the rumour mill. We saw major moves made at the deadline, but a number of trades didn’t happen. General managers are now figuring out their next steps and maybe making some signings in the wake of the deadline.

One team that made some significant moves was the New York Islanders. This edition of NHL rumours deals with how a forward that stayed put may be in line for a contract extension.

All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.

NHL Rumours

New York Islanders May Extend Veteran Forward

Rumour: The Fourth Period reports that the Islanders are trying to extend forward Kyle Palmieri. He was told by Islanders management he wouldn’t be traded and they are working to get an extension. David Pagnotta reported it was a two-year offer.

Analysis: Islanders General Manager Lou Lamoriello made some big moves at the trade deadline. New York dealt veteran forward Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche in part of a retooling. Some thought that Palmieri would be on the way out of Long Island, but he didn’t get dealt at the deadline.

Palmieri would have been a solid addition for a contending team had Lamoriello decided to deal him. However, the Islanders reversed course and are looking to keep the veteran scorer. The 34-year-old has gotten another 20-goal season under his belt and this got him some looks from teams. However, Lamoriello seems like he wants to re-sign the Smithtown, New York native.

We saw the Islanders tear down their roster and start the stockpiling of assets. The Nelson deal saw them net a first-round pick from Colorado and some thought a Palmieri deal would get some sort of return in picks, prospects or players. However, his future seems to be in Elmont.

What It Means

The Islanders are going to have to retool and seem like they’ll miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are a number of good young players in the Islanders’ prospect pool. However, the team still needs veteran players to guide the youngsters along. Palmieri could fit that bill and still provide some offence when needed.

Palmieri is still an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and he could still sign with a different team. However, the Islanders have a shot to lock him down before he hits the open market on July 1. Ethan Sears of The New York Post wrote that both sides seems to be close on a deal and believe something will happen.

There are some Islanders fans that will question keeping a veteran player when they could get some value for him. Some may think it sends to opposite message of the team trying to conduct rebuild or retooling. However, Palmieri has expressed a desire to stay with the club. There may be some pain on Long Island, but it seems that the veteran forward wants to be part of the process.

Main photo by: John Jones-Imagn Images

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Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the New York Islanders taking on the San Jose Sharks. Finally, be sure to check out more predictions for all the NHL’s games throughout the 2024-25 season.

New York Islanders Trade Veteran Mainstay

NHL Predictions

New York Islanders versus San Jose Sharks

Time: 10:00 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time)

TV: NBCSCA, MSGSN, ESPN+

This prediction features two features two out-of-conference opponents who have both struggled this season. They were both sellers at the trade deadline this year. The Islanders sit sixth in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division with a record of 28-26-7. Through 61 games that has them at 63 points. Meanwhile, the Sharks are in the basement of the Western Conference’s Pacific Division through 64 games. Their record stands at 17-38-9 good for 43 points. This will be the second and final matchup between these teams. The Islanders took the first game 4-1 at home. Tonight, they will travel to the SAP Center in California for this game.

The Islanders Story

Despite winning three of their last four games, the Islanders sold at this year’s deadline. A smart move considering all the teams they would have to jump to reach the playoffs. However, it is an emotional decision for the team and fans as they parted ways with one of its lifelong players. Brock Nelson who played all 901 of his career games with the team was shipped out to the Colorado Avalanche.  Nelson who was in a three-way tie for the team point lead will leave a big hole in their lineup. The team was already struggling to produce offence as is, ranking 27th in the league at 2.72 goals per game. Now they will need to lean on their veterans for point production. Kyle Palmieri who was bumped to the first line has been hot recently with goals in six of his last eight games. His presence will look to provide a spark for Bo Horvat. He has four points in his last 10 and no multi point efforts since Jan 20.

Defensively nothing changed, it is all the same players on the blueline. This unit has been middle of the pack so far this season. They rank 17th in goals against with 2.97 per game.  17th is also where they rank in high danger shots against with 1681. The most important player for their defence is Ilya Sorokin, they go as he goes. He is 3-1 with a .918 save percentage and 2.53 goals against in his last four starts. Sorokin has been getting as many starts as he can handle due to injuries in their net. However, backup Marcus Hogberg was able to return to practice yesterday. His presence would mean some games off for Sorokin which would be beneficial to keep him healthy.

The Sharks Story

The Sharks also sold off some pieces at the deadline. They shipped top six forward Fabian Zetterlund to the Ottawa Senators. He was producing mildly for the Sharks with 36 points in 64 games. Their offence ranked 30th in the league still goes through their youngsters. 22-year-old William Eklund has 48 points in 59 games and has been on the scoresheet in nine of his last 10 games. While Calder Trophy candidate Macklin Celebrini has 46 points in 52 games. He just joined the 20-goal club in his last game and is tied for second in rookie points. Veteran Tyler Toffoli has enjoyed a nice season so far as well with 43 points in 61 games. He rides a four-game point streak into this one.

Defensively San Jose leaves a lot to be desired. They rank last in goals against at 3.70 per game. One factor that goes into that is a 27th ranked penalty kill at just 74.5%. The other reason being they just allow too many golden chances. They have allowed the most amount of high danger shots against at 171. A revolving door in their net doesn’t help matters either. They traded Mackenzie Blackwood to the Avalanche earlier in the season. Followed up by trading Vitek Vanecek to the Florida Panthers at the deadline as well. This leaves Alexandar Georgiev as the starter, and he has a rough go this season. With a 4-13-1 record he has a .877 save percentage and 3.87 goals against. He will likely see the bulk of the starts as Georgi Romanov is his backup who has two career appearances.

Prediction

Neither one of these teams is all that impressive. The Islanders do hold the advantages on offence, defence and in net.  Both of these teams will probably be out of the playoffs. However, the Islanders are closer to a wild card spot sitting only four points out. Meanwhile the Sharks are 25 points out. This belief will lead to New York playing harder and ultimately walking away with the win in this game.

Prediction: Islanders win 4-2

Prop Bets

We wrap up NHL predictions with some prop bets for this game. Popular sports books have the Islanders as favourites in this matchup at -184. We feel this is a good bet to take in this contest. The over/under is set at 6.5 which is far too high. Both of these teams struggle to score goals, and both have traded away a top 6 forward recently so we like the under at -140. As far as anytime goal scorers, for the Islanders take Bo Horvat at +150. He has 2 goals in his last 10 contests and without Brock Nelson now the pressure is amplified on him to produce. For the Sharks take Tyler Toffoli at +195. He is the team’s leading goal scorer and on a modest point streak, so we like him to stay hot and bury one here.

Main Photo Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images

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The New York Islanders have dealt one of their veteran forwards. News came down in the wee hours of Friday morning that the Islanders have completed the Brock Nelson trade. Nelson was sent to the Colorado Avalanche along with William Dufour. Moreover, the Isles receive forward Calum Ritchie, defenceman Oliver Kylington, and a couple picks. The draft picks include a first rounder in either 2026 or 2027 and a condition 2028 third rounder. This move signifies a significant roster change in Long Island. In a further announcement, Kylington was then moved to the Anaheim Ducks, in exchange for future considerations. Kylington hasn’t played much in the NHL this season. However, he is an option as a depth defender for Anaheim.

The New York Islanders have acquired forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round selection in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, and defenseman Oliver Kylington from the Colorado Avalanche, in exchange for Brock Nelson and William Dufour.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 7, 2025

New York Islanders Make Brock Nelson Trade

Nelson has played exclusively for the Islanders during his 12-year NHL career. The 33-year-old has 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 61 games so far during the 2024-25 campaign. Through all situations, he has a Corsi for 51.3% and a relative Corsi of 2.4.

The Warroad, Minn. native has 295 goals and 279 assists for 574 points in 901 career games. New York originally drafted Nelson in the first round, 30th overall of the 2010 NHL Draft. Nelson played his college hockey at the University of North Dakota and had a 28-goal season in 2011-12.

He has represented his native United States at the international level. Nelson has won bronze at the 2011 IIHF World Juniors and at the 2015 IIHF World Championships. The veteran forward was also on the Team USA roster for the most-recent 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. He did not record a point in four games played.

What It Means

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello looks like he’s going to make some big changes. Many thought Nelson would be an Islander for life. However, reality doesn’t always afford that.

Lamoriello knew that he could get some assets for Nelson at the deadline. The Islanders did play better after the New Year, but time has run out and the hill was to big to climb. New York is working on making over its roster and unloading Nelson gives the team some new assets. Calum Ritchie brings along some upside as an NHL prospect. The 20 year old only has seven career games under his belt. In contrast, the 2023 Avalanche first-round selection will get time to develop with the Islanders.

For the Avalanche

Nelson can now be part of a team seeking post-season glory. He’s been a great player on both ends of the ice and can help out with the leadership group. This could be a solid pickup at the deadline and help reconfigure the Avs lineup. They have been doing lots of roster shuffling including having shipped off Mikko Rantanen.

They also picked up Dufour, who has still been playing in the minors mostly. Adding him just brings in a bit of organizational depth, rather than a direct impact on the NHL roster.

Main photo by: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

The post New York Islanders Trade Veteran Mainstay appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.

Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the New York Islanders taking on the Nashville Predators. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2024-25 season.

NHL Predictions

New York Islanders vs Nashville Predators

Time: 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)

TV: MSGSN, FDSNSO, NHL Network

This round of NHL Predictions features two out-of-conference opponents, who have both struggled this season. The Islanders seventh in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division with a record of 26-25-7. Through 58 games that record is good enough for 59 points. Meanwhile, the Predators are seventh in the Western Conference’s Central Division through 58 games. Their record sits at 21-30-7 good for 49 points. This will be the first of two matchups between the two sides this season. Tonight’s game taking place on Long Island inside UBS Arena. These two teams split last season’s series a game apiece.

The Islanders Story

The Islanders have struggled coming out of the Four Nations break. They had lost their first two games since coming off the break and that had them on a four-game losing streak. However, they were finally able to snap that streak with a 2-1 win their last time out against the Boston Bruins. Offence has been hard to come by recently for the 27th ranked team in the league averaging just 2.69 goals per game. They have failed to score more than two goals in back-to-back games.

What little offence they have produced has come from Kyle Palmieri who has five points in the last five games. He could be playing up his trade value as the deadline nears. With Mathew Barzal still not skating, the Islanders will need more from their top point scorers. Anders Lee for example who hasn’t registered a point since the break. In addition, Bo Horvat has only one point since the break so these two will need to produce more if the team wants any chance of a playoff push.

Defensively the Islanders hover in the middle of the pack, ranking 16 in goals against at 2.95. They have gotten healthier as of late though. They welcomed back Ryan Pulock the first game after the break and more recently Noah Dobson in the most recent outing. The reinforcements helped limit Boston to just one goal. Ilya Sorokin snapping out of his slump also played a big factor in that result stopping 38 of 39 shots.

He had lost his previous four games, allowing 18 goals on 99 shots (.818 save percentage). Hopefully this performance could help right the ship as he remains the biggest X-factor for this team and whether they win or lose games. Due to all the goalie injuries, he has played in 29 of the last 34 games. That makes him to busiest goalie in the NHL during that stretch. The season long numbers remain solid for Sorokin. He sports a 21-18-4 record with a .905 save percentage and 2.76 goals against.

The Predators Story

The Predators came out of the break and lost two games in a row. However, they were able to snap that streak in their last game, a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. It has been a rough season offensively for Nashville as they rank dead last in goals per game with 2.55. They have been held to two goals or less in eight of their last 10 games and have lost seven of their last 10. Led by Filip Forsberg and his 54 points in 58 games, he provides a strong scoring output despite the teams troubles. He and his running mate Ryan O’Reilly on the top line can cause trouble for an opponent on any night. While O’Reilly’s goal scoring numbers are down, he still provides great playmaking abilities with seven assists and in his last 10 games.

Defensively Nashville has better numbers but still not great. They rank 26th in goals against with 3.28 per game.  However, despite this they do a good job limiting dangerous chances allowing the third least high danger shots with only 100 against. They also have a great penalty kill, that unit ranks ninth in the league at 80.9%. That could be hard to maintain if Roman Josi is unable to return to the lineup, he missed the last game with an upper body injury.

One thing going against them has been a down year for the normally strong Juuse Saros. He has lost six of his last eight starts. For the season he is 13-24-6 with a .900 save percentage and 2.88 goals against. Saros has seen a majority of the starts because backup Justus Annunen hasn’t been any better. He is 7-4 with a .899 save percentage and 3.12 goals against. This is the first of a back-to-back for Nashville so each goalie will take a turn but the goalie for this one is unconfirmed.

Prediction

The Islanders hold the advantage offensively, defensively and in goal. These points in this game are much more important for the Islanders. They had fought their way back into playoff contention before a recent slide has set them back. New York sits seven points out of the wild card and still has time to come back.

Meanwhile Nashville is 16 points out of playoff contention and would need a miracle to have a chance. If the Islanders are serious and want any hope of making it, they can afford nothing less than the two points in this game. Playing on home ice against a lottery team, we think they will be able to secure them in this game.

Prediction: Islanders win 3-2.

Prop Bets

We wrap up NHL predictions with some prop bets for this game. Popular sports books have the Islanders are the favourites in this game. Take their money line at -132. The over/under is set at 5.5. Both teams have offences that rank in the bottom half of the league and Sorokin is coming off a great performance. We like the under at -120.

As far as any time goal scorers, for the Islanders take Anders Lee. We highlighted his struggles since the break earlier and as one of his team’s top guys, he has to step up. He has two goals in the last 10, he is overdue to pot one. For the Predators take Filip Forsberg at +165. He is the team’s leading goal scorer and is relied upon a lot for his team’s offence so he is likely to score one here.

Main photo by: Tom Horak-Imagn Images

The post NHL Predictions: March 1 New York Islanders vs Nashville Predators appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.

Welcome back to NHL predictions! Every day, Last Word on Hockey provides insights and analysis to predict the outcome of the games on the NHL schedule. Today, we will examine the matchup between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders. Be sure to check out all of our NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season moves along.

NHL Predictions

New York Islanders vs Boston Bruins

Head-to-Head: Islanders 1-1 Bruins

Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)

TV: MSGSN; NESN; ESPN+

The Bruins (27-24-8) will wrap up their four game home-stand when they play host to the Islanders  (25-25-7) at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday, February 27th. Thursday’s matchup will be the third and final meeting between these two eastern conference foes. The Bruins were victorious in their first meeting on November 27th, beating the Islanders 6-3. However, New York would get their revenge, handing the Bruins a 5-4 overtime loss on TD Garden ice on January 5th. Both teams look to break the tie as they hunt for a massive two points.

Goaltending Needs to be Better for New York

Despite missing their all-star forward, Mathew Barzal, the Islanders are seven points out of a wildcard spot. If the Isles want any chance of making the playoffs, they need to come out of this game with two points. A fifth straight loss would likely end their playoff aspirations.

During their four game skid, the Islanders have allowed four or more goals in every game. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin is struggling at particularly bad time. He was pulled from the net in Tuesday nights game against the New York Rangers after allowing five goals on just 11 shots. This stretch of poor play from Sorokin comes after a terrific stretch where he won seven straight games. The Isles need their goaltender to return to his late January form if they want to come out of this game with two points.

Lucky for them, they could score their way to a win. The Bruins are without their top two defencemen as Charlie McAvoy remains out with a shoulder injury, and Hampus Lindholm has been sidelined since mid November. Without their two best blue liners, Boston becomes even more vulnerable defensively, which could allow scorers like Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, and Bo Horvat to take advantage.

Boston Must Stay Composed and Lean on Pastrnak

Just like the Islanders, the Bruins enter Thursday nights action on a four game losing streak. The B’s are coming off of a devastating defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs where they saw a 3-0 lead vanish, leading to a 5-4 overtime loss. In that game, the Bruins lost their composure and started playing scared once Toronto made it 3-1. In order to get back on track they must be better in high pressure situations and ensure they’re not running around when the puck is in their end.

The black and gold also need to lock in at the end of periods. On Tuesday, Pontus Holmberg scored with 46 seconds left to tie the game at 4, sending it to overtime. Holmberg’s tally marked the 25th time the Bruins have allowed a goal with two minutes or less remaining in a period. This has also occurred in three of their last four games played, going back to their last game before the break against Vegas on February 8th. This cannot happen anymore if Boston wants to make a serious playoff push, it starts with playing with more composure.

Although the team has struggled as of late, superstar David Pastrnak continues to shine. He’s riding a 15 game point streak, the longest of the NHL has seen this season. On his streak, ‘Pasta’ has 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points. It seems unlikely the Bruins will create any offence unless their star winger is involved in some way. The 28-year-old must stay hot to get the Bruins back on track with a win.

Prediction

One streak will end while the other will continue. Both of these teams have struggled to stay consistent all season long. With the Islanders struggling to keep the puck out of the net, it may not fair well for them to have to try and contain the hottest player in the league in David Pastrnak. While the Bruins to continue to play without their best defencemen, the Islanders may keep it close. It would be a shock for Boston to lose four straight home games.

Prediction: Bruins win 5-3

Prop Bets of The Night

Brock Nelson has five goals in his last five games against Boston, scoring in four of them. He sits at +220 as an anytime goal scorer. As for the Bruins, the Islanders will do everything they can to shutdown Pastrnak, which could open up opportunities for Morgan Geekie who sits at 19 goals and is searching for his first 20th goal season of his career. Geekie is listed as +250 as an anytime goal scorer. The Bruins are favourites at home at -114.

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Main Photo: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The post NHL Predictions: February 27th Boston Bruins Vs. New York Islanders appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.