Islanders vs. Golden Knights NHL Picks: Vegas Looking for Daylight

Place your Sunday hockey bets with our NHL picks for the interconference battle between the New York Islanders and Vegas Golden Knights.

The Islanders struggled out of the gate with losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers but finally got well in winning two of their last three games. Those victories came over the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes, with a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets wedged in between. New York (2-2-1, 1-3-1 Over/Under) is in the midst of the second-longest road trip in NHL history, a 13-game sojourn, due to construction underway at their home of UBS Arena.

Vegas is in unfamiliar territory this early in the season with three losses through four games. Last season, the Knights didn’t lose their third game until their 11th contest. After a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken to open the 2021-22 campaign, losses to the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers followed. The Golden Knights (1-3, 3-1 O/U) were outscored 14-6 over their last three losses.

Here are my picks and predictions for Sunday’s NHL matchup between the Islanders and Golden Knights (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook).

Islanders vs. Golden Knights Game Info

Date/Time: Sunday, October 24, 10 p.m. ETTV: NHL NetworkLocation: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Islanders vs. Golden Knights Odds Analysis

The NHL odds for this Sunday night matchup have been consistent from the opener and have not deviated all that much as of this early morning writing.

The best online sportsbooks are showing the Knights as ranging between -125 and -139 home favorites, depending on where you shop. The total is 5.5 across the board, and the puck line lists the Knights as -1.5 (+175) or -1 (+115) favorites over the Islanders.

Islanders vs. Golden Knights Picks

Golden Knights (-125)Under 5.5 (-115)Islanders Under 1.5 goals (+215)

Islanders vs. Golden Knights Predictions

Golden Knights (-125)

The goaltending assignments have not been made public as of this writing but we could see Laurent Brossoit tending the twine for the Knights after Robin Lehner’s four consecutive starts, including the most recent in which he allowed four goals in Friday’s 5-3 setback to the Oilers. That is A-OK with us because Brossoit is a highly capable backup entering his eighth NHL season after three years with the Winnipeg Jets. 

However, this pick has more to do with the underachieving Knights offense than championing Brossoit. The Islanders are also a road-weary team that is playing the second leg of a back-to-back and with eight games remaining on their road trip. 

Speaking of backup goaltenders, we will likely see 35-year-old Cory Schneider between the pipes for the Isles. Ilya Sorokin has played in all five contests this season, including Saturday night’s 3-0 shutout of the Coyotes. Last season’s starter, Semyon Varlamov, is still rehabbing from an undisclosed injury.

The Knights offense will catch fire at some point and Sunday would be a prime opportunity to do so against a winded Islanders team likely to start their backup netminder.

Under 5.5 (-115)

I’m not expecting much from the Islanders offense after playing the Coyotes Saturday and then having to hop on a plane from Phoenix to Las Vegas. After all, this is a team that has averaged just 2.6 goals per game this season and I doubt they will score even a pair in this one.

The Knights should have plenty of jump in their step after having Saturday off and preparing for this one. Nevertheless, the Knights have not exactly been a juggernaut either, with only 2.5 goals per game. 

However, the Vegas offense has the chops to score early and often. It’s one reason why I like the Knights in this game but I believe they still need a few more games under their collective belts to amp up the scoring.

Islanders Under 1.5 goals (+215)

The Isles should be sucking wind Sunday, which is why I believe they will not only lose this game but struggle to find the back of the net. 

Whether it is Lehner or Brossoit, the Knights’ defense and goaltending will limit the Isles in this matchup. Moreover, the big price we are getting makes this a prop pick too tempting to ignore. 

SEE ALSO: Picks to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Picks made 10/24/2021 at 6 a.m. ET.