Tonight's cross-town showdown at UBS Arena pits two struggling New York squads against each other, with both teams sitting a frustrating eight points outside the playoff picture.
The Rangers bring their top-heavy offense led by Artemi Panarin (51 goals) against an Islanders team that's managed just 29 goals in their last nine games, while goaltending could prove decisive with Igor Shesterkin (.903 save percentage) facing off against Marcus Hogberg in what's expected to be a tight, low-scoring affair.
The pressure couldn't be higher as the New York Islanders look to defend home ice against the New York Rangers in what might be a last-gasp effort to keep fading playoff hopes alive.
New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers prediction: who will win?
For tonight's New York Islanders vs New York Rangers matchup, our predictive model gives the Rangers a 72.5% chance of defeating the Islanders.
Pre-game probabilities
New York Rangers
Moneyline
Win %
72.5%
27.5%
New York Islanders
New York Rangers: 72.5% win probability
- Superior offensive output (235 goals for compared to Islanders' 216)
- Higher league position (12th in Eastern Conference versus Islanders' 10th)
- Better recent form (LLLWW compared to Islanders' LWWLL, with two consecutive wins)
New York Islanders: 27.5% win probability
- Defensive vulnerability (238 goals against, ranking in the bottom half of Eastern Conference)
- Inconsistent performance (34-32-11 record shows inability to string together wins)
- Poor goal differential (-22, significantly worse than many teams with similar points totals)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| New York Islanders | New York Rangers | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers preview
The struggling New York Rangers and New York Islanders are set to reignite their cross-town rivalry at UBS Arena this Thursday in what might be their most meaningful matchup of this disappointing season.
Both squads find themselves eight points outside the playoff picture with identical .513 points percentages, turning this battle for New York into a desperate fight for pride rather than postseason positioning.
The Rangers' offense has been top-heavy all year, with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck combining for 51 goals and 84 assists while the rest of the lineup has struggled to find the net consistently.
On the flip side, the Islanders have been let down by their anemic attack, managing just 29 goals in their last nine games despite solid production from Bo Horvat and Anders Lee.
Between the pipes, Igor Shesterkin has been a bright spot for the Rangers with a 2.89 GAA, while the Islanders will likely counter with Ilya Sorokin, who sports a career .916 save percentage despite facing heavy workloads.
Both teams' defensive units have been equally suspect, each surrendering just over three goals per game, which makes the goaltending battle potentially decisive in this low-scoring affair.
The latest chapter in this storied rivalry might not have playoff implications, but with bragging rights and a chance to salvage something from disappointing campaigns, expect a tight, physical contest that showcases the traditional intensity of Rangers-Islanders matchups.
My gut says Rangers take this one on the road, with Panarin being the difference-maker against an Islanders team that's shown a troubling inability to light the lamp when it matters most.
New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers form
New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers head to head
New York Islanders
17%
New York Rangers
83%
Mar 4, 2025
New York Rangers
4 : 0
New York Islanders
Feb 26, 2025
New York Islanders
1 : 5
New York Rangers
Nov 3, 2024
New York Rangers
5 : 2
New York Islanders
Oct 4, 2024
New York Islanders
5 : 2
New York Rangers
Sep 24, 2024
New York Rangers
6 : 4
New York Islanders
Apr 13, 2024
New York Rangers
3 : 2
New York Islanders
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