Los Angeles Kings vs New York Islanders Picks and Prediction for Monday October 26, 2026
The Los Angeles Kings will travel to New York Monday night for a matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET and will be televised on NHL Network. Los Angeles enters the matchup with a 2-5-2 record after a difficult start to the season, while New York is 7-5-1 overall. New York is a slight -135 home favorite Monday night. The Kings come in at +114, and the total is 5.5. Stay up to date with our NHL Picks.
Los Angeles looks for a road win
The Los Angeles offense has been one of the bottom feeders in the NHL this season as the Kings are averaging just 2.33 goals and 27.2 shots. Defensively, Los Angeles has had a ton of trouble, allowing 3.56 goals on 29.1 shots, and they've given up 11 goals across their last three losses. Artemi Panarin is leading the Los Angeles offense this season with 9 points, and he has boasted a team-leading six goals. Adrian Kempe is second on the roster with eight points this season along with a team high 5 assists. Brandt Clarke and Alex Laferriere are both tied for third on the roster with seven points apiece.
Anton Forsberg struggled in net for Los Angeles last time out, giving up two goals on 25 shots to post a .920 save percentage in just under 58.5 minutes on the ice before New Jersey found the empty net. Scott Laughton provided the only spark for the Los Angeles offense last time out with one goal and one shot in just under 14.5 minutes.
Key Injury Report for Los Angeles:
- Quinton Byfield (Day-To-Day) – Oct 25
- Alex Turcotte (IR) – Oct 26
- Jakub Dvorak (IR-NR) – Oct 31
- Jan Jenik (IR-NR) – Nov 7
- Kevin Fiala (IF) – Oct 31
The Rangers try to stay undefeated at home
The New York Rangers offense is averaging 3.15 goals on 24.5 shots per game this season. Defensively, New York has held their own, allowing 2.77 goals on 26.3 shots, though they have given up twenty goals across their last four losses. Adam Fox is leading New York this season with 16 points, and he boasts a team-high 16 assists. Alexis Lafreniere is the second-leading scorer with 15 points, along with a team-high nine goals. Mika Zibanejad is third on the team this season with 11 points.
Dylan Garand was horrendous in the net last game for New York, giving up five goals on 22 shots to post a .773 save percentage in just under 58.5 minutes. Will Cuylie and JT Miller led the New York offense in their last outing with one goal and one assist each. Pavel Dorofeyev and Alexis Lafreniere both chipped in with one goal apiece.
Key Injury Report for New York:
- Igor Shesterkin (IR-LT) – Sep 15
- Joe Veleno (IR-LT) – Jan 3
- Joonas Korpisalo (IR) – Nov 9
- Aidan Thompason (IR-NR) – Oct 26
- Adam Sykora (IR) – Jan 25
Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers Picks and Prediction
Pick: New York Rangers -135
New York has been unbeatable at Madison Square Garden this season and should have a significant advantage against a Los Angeles team struggling on both ends of the ice. The Rangers have been much more effective defensively, limiting opponents while the Kings have struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities. New York should also benefit from its ability to control possession and create additional scoring chances through its transition game. Los Angeles has struggled defensively this year, making defensive breakdowns a major concern against a Rangers offense capable of producing from multiple lines. Look for New York to establish control early, generate consistent offensive pressure, and extend its home winning streak.
Pick: Under 5.5
Despite the defensive struggles Los Angeles has experienced, this matchup could feature fewer goals than expected because of the Kings' inability to generate consistent offense. Los Angeles has averaged just over two goals per game, while New York has been among the better defensive teams in the league. The Rangers have also been excellent at killing penalties, which should limit an already struggling Los Angeles power play. New York should generate plenty of offensive opportunities against the Kings, but the Rangers will not necessarily need a high-scoring performance to control this matchup. Expect Los Angeles to have difficulty establishing sustained offensive pressure, forcing the Kings to rely heavily on their goaltending.