The New York Islanders (19-11-3) and Detroit Red Wings (18-12-3) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Red Wings are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-140o / +115u). The Red Wings are a -130 favorite to win outright, while the Islanders are +110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Islanders vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks.
Islanders vs. Red Wings Odds, Pick
| Islanders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -230 | 5.5 -140o / +115u | +110 |
| Red Wings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +190 | 5.5 -140o / +115u | -130 |
- Islanders vs. Red Wings Spread: Red Wings -1.5 (+190 ), Islanders +1.5 (-230)
- Islanders vs. Red Wings Over/Under: 5.5 (-140o / +115u)
- Islanders vs. Red Wings Moneyline: Islanders +110, Red Wings -130
Islanders vs. Red Wings Preview
New York Islanders
It didn’t take long, but for the quickest moment, the New York Islanders had the best record in the East after their 3-2 shootout win against the Lightning.
That’s right! The Islanders, who held the number one draft pick this past summer and the team that ultimately had one of the worst long-term outlooks in hockey.
With a little love and style-switching, though, this team has become a powerhouse. There’s already some growing pains after Bo Horvat, a top-five goal scorer, was ruled out for a few weeks with a lower-body injury, but the rest of the squad is performing.
From Mathew Barzal to captain Anders Lee, and one of my favorite rookies in Max Shabanov, it’s easy to see why the Islanders are filled with excitement.
But the main part of New York’s success has been from the work of goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who initially started the season off slowly. Sorokin is certainly the straw that stirs this blue as during this winning stretch, he’s played to a .944 SV% and a second-best 13.1 GSAx.
You almost forget that even though New York has some excitement, its 5-on-5 play has indeed suffered, playing to a 47.8 xGF%.
However, that should tell you everything about Sorokin and his top-notch play.
Detroit Red Wings
I’m still trying to figure out the Red Wings, but man, that six-game road trip was quite the step for this franchise, registering points in five of them.
Winger Alex DeBrincat has been unstoppable with 11 points in his previous seven games, while Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond have maintained a steady flow of points.
But what’s going under the radar is that Patrick Kane is averaging a smidge under a point per game. Yeah, remember that name? It’s good to see Kane still playing like the beauty that he always was.
Amid these two weeks, Detroit has been playing fantastically 5-on-5, with a 54.67 xGF% on offense and a 2.77 xGA/60 on the defensive end.
A really strong aspect of Detroit’s game is its power play. The Wings are scoring with the man advantage at a top-10 rate, but it doesn’t match well with New York’s top-10 penalty kill.
I worry greatly about Detroit’s goaltending, but fear not, perhaps the rise of John Gibson begins. He had an awful start to the season, but in his past three games, he’s already posted two shutouts and has won five games in a row.
Islanders vs. Red Wings Prediction
Both of these teams are coming into this game red hot, and certainly, regression is going to be looming one way or another.
In reality, this is probably close to a pick 'em since both teams are riding a high that their next move could be unpredictable.
However, I tend to have a little more faith in Sorokin than I do in Gibson. And even if Gibson doesn't start, I surely don't trust Cam Talbot either.
It can go either way, but for now, I'm riding with the Islanders, who have managed to excel on the road with a 9-5-1 record.
Pick: Islanders ML
