Edmonton Oilers at New York Islanders Picks and Prediction for Thursday, October 16, 2025

The Edmonton Oilers, standing second in the Pacific Division, take on the New York Islanders, ranked last in the Metropolitan Division will be facing off in a nonconference NHL matchup for our Oilers vs. Islanders prediction. This game, taking place at UBS Arena on October 16th, promises to be an exciting matchup, showcasing not just skill but also the strategic depth of both teams. These teams will play once more this season in January, so this is a time that will be a feeling-out process for both sides. Blue line to crease — NHL picks for Edmonton Oilers at New York Islanders without the fluff.

Oilers Looking Dominant Once Again

The Edmonton Oilers, currently second in the Pacific Division with a 2-0-1 record, are looking to be an incredible team for another season as they started off strong. Their recent performances, including a 2-0 road win against the Rangers, reflect a team finding its groove on the defensive side of the ice specifically. Connor McDavid, the team's point leader with four, has been setting his teammates up for success, contributing significantly to their average goal score of 2.67 per game, ranking them tied for 24th in the league. The Oilers' power play efficiency, standing at a commendable 22.2% (tied for 11th in NHL), showcases their ability to capitalize on opportunities.

In terms of defense, the team has been conceding an average of just 1.33 goals per game, placing them best in the NHL in goals against. Goalie Stuart Skinner has been one of the best in the sport, with a GAA of 1.44 and a save percentage of 0.942. His recent performance, standing on his head against the Rangers, underscores his critical role as the starting goaltender. However, the Oilers face challenges with injuries to players like Zach Hyman and Mattias Janmark, testing their depth and resilience. Their penalty kill rate stands at 88.9% early on, reflecting an exemplary approach to defense. With only 20 penalty minutes, Edmonton’s ability to legally hit puts them in a great position going forward.

Injury Report for Detroit

• Defenseman Jake Walman: Undisclosed (Questionable)
• Center Mattias Janmark: Undisclosed (OUT)
• Left winger Zach Hyman: Wrist (OUT)

Islanders Searching for Answers

The New York Islanders, eighth in the Metropolitan Division with a 0-0-3 record, are a testament to building themselves into a team that is tough to go against. However, their recent fall to the Winnipeg Jets at home, 5-2 makes things tougher going forward. The Islanders’ offense is spearheaded by Kyle Palmieri, the points leader with three. This offensive ability is showcased in their goal average of 2.33 per game, ranking them 28th in the league. New York’s power play, tied for 16th in the league at 18.2%, is a significant factor as they need to build upon, while their faceoff win percentage at 52.0% (12th in NHL) demonstrates their control of the puck.

Defensively, the Islanders allow an average of 4.33 goals per game, 30th in goals against. Despite this, their penalty kill efficiency, at 70.0%, places them 26th, highlighting a need to show improvement. David Rittich, playing for the first time this season, makes things more intriguing. The team faces its own set of injury concerns, with players like Semyon Varlamov and Pierre Engvall sidelined, yet they have shown the depth to manage these setbacks. With 35 penalty minutes, New York’s inability to stay out of the penalty box continues to cause a lot of issues to arise.

Injury Report for New York

• Defenseman Ethan Bear: Undisclosed (OUT)
• Left winger Pierre Engvall: Hip (OUT)
• Left winger Jesse Nurmi: Knee (OUT)
• Goalie Semyon Varlamov: Knee (OUT)

Edmonton Oilers at New York Islanders Pick

Spread Pick for Oilers vs. Islanders

• Edmonton Oilers -170 (4 units)

Stuart Skinner has shown the ability to be an excellent goaltender coming off his playoff run and has gotten off to an incredible start. David Rittich, on the other hand, is a third-string goaltender as Semyon Varlamov is out with a knee injury. Edmonton has some of the most explosive offensive players with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, so they can have a crooked number on the scoreboard in a heartbeat. Edmonton has also been in New York as they played the Rangers in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, meaning there is no travel advantage for the lowly Islanders. All in all, go with the Edmonton Oilers to secure a win and continue picking up points.

Over/Under Pick for Oilers vs. Islanders

• Under 6.5 (5 units)

These offenses are not doing too well throughout the season as neither team is averaging at least three goals per game. On the defensive side of things, these teams are limiting the amount of shots against them as the Oilers are third in the NHL with only 22.3 shot attempts against per game, while the Islanders are tied for 14th with 27.7 opposing shot attempts per game right now. They have also done a strong job at killing penalties throughout the first handful of games, which should continue here. The under is 6-1-1 in their last eight games against one another since 2022, so go with the under as well.