The New York Islanders (4-5-1) and Washington Capitals (6-4-0) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. The game will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
The Capitals are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-110o / -110u). The Capitals are a -230 favorite to win outright, while the Islanders are +190 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Islanders vs. Capitals predictions and NHL picks.
Islanders vs. Capitals Odds, Pick
| Islanders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -130 | 6 -110o / -110u | +190 |
| Capitals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +110 | 6 -110o / -110u | -230 |
Islanders vs. Capitals Spread: Capitals -1.5 (+110), Islanders +1.5 (-130)
Islanders vs. Capitals Over/Under: 6 (-110o / -110u)
Islanders vs. Capitals Moneyline: Islanders +190, Capitals -230
Islanders vs. Capitals Preview
The Capitals are a stingy team overall. They have the lowest goals-against average in the entire NHL this season at 2.20 per game (22 goals allowed in 10 games).
Among qualified goalies, Washington's Logan Thompson leads the league in goals against with 1.44 and is tied for first place in save percentage with .939.
On top of that, Capitals games have averaged a total of 4.9 goals. A big part of that also has to do with Washington's offense, which ranks next-to-last with 27 goals.
Five out of 10 Capitals games have had fewer than six goals so far, and three more have had exactly six. One of those was a matchup against tonight's opponent. On October 11, the Capitals beat the Islanders 4-2.
The Islanders are not the biggest threat to this low-scoring tendency, as they rank 17th in goals scored with 34 this season.
Our Bet Labs "Early High Profile Unders" system recommends the under tonight at an excellent value.
Islanders vs. Capitals Prediction
The Early High Profile Unders system focuses on NHL games in October that attract heavy betting attention but tend to open the season with conservative, low-scoring play.
Early in the year, teams are still finding rhythm, systems are tight, and goaltenders are fresh, all leading to lower-scoring environments despite public enthusiasm for overs.
These games often feature marquee matchups or national exposure, drawing inflated totals as casual bettors expect excitement and offense.
In reality, early-season hockey is built on structure and defensive discipline, especially when coaches emphasize fundamentals.
When betting volume spikes and the public leans toward the over, value consistently emerges on the under as teams adjust to new rosters, pace, and timing, keeping scoring suppressed.
Best Bet: Under 6 (-110, bet365)
