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 Vegas Golden Knights. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025-26 season.
NHL Predictions
New York Islanders vs Vegas Golden Knights
Time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
The Islanders Story
The Islanders come into this game riding a two-game winning streak. The latest being an impressive 3-2 overtime win over their rival, the New Jersey Devils. Their offence continues to be the strong point. They have scored three or more goals in three of the last four games. They are tied for 11th in goals for with 3.31 per game. Bo Horvat remains the driving force for this team. He has a six-game point streak entering this game. His 12 goals this season lead the team and have him just two back of the league lead. He has not been alone as the Islanders have seven forwards with 10+ points already this season. That is all, with a power play ranked 22nd at 17.6%. They could be among the league’s best offences if they can get more production from that unit.
The defence has played better over the last stretch of games. In four of their last six games, they have allowed two goals or fewer. The better play has resulted in them moving up to 19th in goals against per game at 3.19. One big reason for this improvement has been the penalty kill stepping up. They rank 17th at 78.4% kill rate, which has them middle of the pack. However, a recent seven-game stretch has seen them kill off 18 of 20 penalties, which is a 90% rate. The other big reason has been Ilya Sorokin returning to form. He is expected to start this game tonight, and he has been sharp lately. He has won back-to-back starts and three of his last four, including a shutout, while allowing two goals or fewer in three of those contests. Sorokin heads into this matchup 5-4-2 with a .898 save percentage.
The Golden Knights Story
The Golden Knights come into this one not playing their best hockey at the moment. They carry a three-game losing streak into this game. Offence has been struggling a little; they have scored two goals or fewer in three of their last five games. That stretch has them ranked 14th in goals per game with 3.20. They are dealing with injuries to two of their top-six forwards, which have hampered them. Mark Stone, who is on IR and William Karlsson, who is day to day. However, they still have Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. Eichel leads the team with 22 points in 15 games, which has him top 10 in the league. Marner is right behind him with 19 points in 15 games. He has points in five of their last six games, including a three-game point streak that he brings into tonight. These two can carry on the offence for a stretch while they deal with these injuries.
The defence for the Golden Knights has been their strong suit this season. However, it has been a tough stretch of games recently. In three of their last five games, they have allowed four or more goals. Despite this, they still rank 12th in goals against with 2.93 per game. They have the second-fewest high-danger shots allowed with just 24. They have also had to deal with injuries in their net. Starter Adin Hill has been out for the last two weeks with a lower-body injury. New starter Akira Schmid and Carl Lindbom make up their goalie tandem. Schmid, who is 6-1-1 in his appearances with a .901 save percentage, is likely to make the start; however, no goalie has been announced yet.
Prediction
Coming into this game, both teams are in similar positions with the same number of points this season. On paper, they match up well against each other. The Golden Knights have the home ice and defensive advantages. However, the Knights are dealing with forward core and goaltending injuries. This gives an edge to the Islanders in these two major areas. With those injuries and New York playing better hockey at the moment, we think they will pull off the upset in Vegas.
Prediction: Islanders win 3-2
Prop Bets
According to the popular sportsbooks, the Islanders come into this game as the underdogs. We think they pull off the win, and their money line is at +164 for good odds. The over/under is at 6.5. With the Golden Knights’ good defensive play and the recent form of Ilya Sorokin, we like the under at -128. As far as any-time goal scorers, for the Islanders, we like Bo Horvat. He has the team lead for goals and is on fire recently. For the Knights, we like Mitch Marner. He has a three-game point streak and will look to continue his hot streak.
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Main Photo: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: Nov. 13 New York Islanders vs Vegas Golden Knights appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.