Los Angeles Kings vs New York Islanders Picks and Prediction for Thursday October 22, 2026

Los Angeles Kings vs New York Islanders Game Information

The Los Angeles Kings will travel to Elmont, New York, Thursday night for a matchup against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM ET, with coverage available on ESPN+. Los Angeles comes into Thursday struggling this season currently 1-4-2 on the year following a three-goal victory over Washington in their last outing to end a lengthy losing streak. The New York Islanders come into Thursday with a much better year, 5-3-1 this season, having won three of the last four, including two in a row. New York comes into this game a -120-home favorite. Los Angeles is a +100, and the total is set at 5.5. Stay in the action with our NHL Picks.

Los Angeles looks to build on the win

The Los Angeles Kings offense has been below average of season averaging 2.4 three goals and 29.3 shots per game. Defensively, Los Angeles has been equally bad, allowing 3.86 goals on 27.6 shots. Artemi Panarin is leading the Los Angeles offense this season with 7 points, and he has posted a team-high four goals. Alex Laferriere and Adrian Kempe are both tied for second on the roster with six points, and Laferriere leads the team with four assists this season.

Darcy Kuemper was stout in the net last game out for Los Angeles, giving up just two goals on 32 shots to post a .938 save percentage in the game. Adrian Kempe led the offense with two goals on six shots in just over 18 minutes. Artemi Panarin Chipped in heavily with one goal and two assists in nearly 17 minutes on the ice.

Key Injury Report for Los Angeles:

Quinton Byfield (Day-To-Day) – Oct 22

Alex Turcotte (IR) – Oct 22

Jakub Dvorak (IR-NR) – Oct 31

Jan Henik (IR-NR) – Oct 24

Kevin Fiala (IR) – Oct 31

New York tries to stay hot

The New York offense has carried them this year, averaging three goals on 24.9 shots, and they have scored 10 total goals across their last three wins. Defensively, New York has been elite, holding opponents to 2.11 shots on just over 25 shots per game. Bo Horvat is leading the New York offense this season with 10 points, and he's posted a team-high five goals. Matthew Schaefer is 2nd on the roster with eight points this season, and he leads the way with eight assists. Matias Maccelli is third on the team with 6 points this season.

 Ilya Sorokin led the charge for the New York defense last time out, giving up two goals on 17 shots to post an .882 save percentage. Victor Eklund, Ondrej Palat, and Simon Holmstrom did the scoring for New York, punching in one goal apiece.

Key Injury Report for New York:

• Calum Ritchie (Out) – Dec 1
• Matias Maccelli (Out) – Nov 17
• Alexander Romanov (IR) -Apr 8
• Mathew Barzal (IR-NR) – Nov 7

Los Angeles Kings vs New York Islanders Picks and Prediction

Pick: New York Islanders -120 

New York should have an advantage in this matchup if it can establish its physical presence and make Los Angeles work for every scoring opportunity. The Islanders are at their best when they keep opponents along the boards, protect the middle of the ice, and limit second-chance opportunities around the net. Los Angeles has enough offensive talent to create problems, particularly when Adrian Kempe gets opportunities to attack with speed, but the Kings could have difficulty generating consistent pressure if New York controls the neutral zone. Expect New York to take advantage of its home ice and produce enough offense to secure the victory.

Pick: Under 5.5

This matchup has the potential to become a defensive battle, especially if both teams remain disciplined and avoid giving up unnecessary power-play opportunities. Los Angeles generally benefits from a structured game that limits turnovers and prevents opponents from generating quality scoring chances in transition. New York can take a similar approach by slowing the pace and forcing the Kings to work through its defensive coverage. Neither team should be interested in trading scoring opportunities throughout the night, making puck possession and defensive positioning especially important. There could be extended stretches where both teams struggle to generate offense from dangerous areas. Look for a competitive game with limited scoring opportunities and a final score that stays below the total.

Final Picks: New York Islanders -120 and Under 5.5