Minnesota Wild vs New York Islanders Pick – 4/4/2025

The Minnesota Wild are set to face the New York Islanders on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 7:30 PM Eastern Time at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. This cross-conference game features two teams with contrasting recent performances, making it a compelling contest for hockey enthusiasts and bettors alike.

Minnesota Wild vs. New York Islanders Game Preview

The Minnesota Wild enter this game with a record of 41-28-7, positioning them in the thick of the playoff race. However, they've encountered a rough patch recently, going 1-3-2 over their last six games and currently on a three-game losing streak. Their most recent outing was a 5-4 overtime loss to the New York Rangers, where they were outshot 39-24. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson allowed five goals on 39 shots in that game, bringing his season record to 29-17-6 with a 2.54 goals-against average (GAA) and a .916 save percentage. The Wild are tied with the St. Louis Blues for the fourth spot in the Central Division and hold a wild card position, seven points ahead of the Calgary Flames.

On the other hand, the New York Islanders have struggled significantly, losing six consecutive games and allowing 27 goals while scoring 16 during that span. Their latest game resulted in a 4-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite outshooting their opponents 29-24. Goalie Ilya Sorokin, who has a season record of 27-23-6 with a 2.79 GAA and a .904 save percentage, yielded three goals on 23 shots in that matchup. The Islanders are currently five points behind the bottom wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Betting Insights

For bettors analyzing this game, several factors come into play:

• Moneyline: The Wild are favored with odds of -152, while the Islanders are underdogs at +126. This suggests that the Wild are expected to win, but not overwhelmingly so.
• Over/Under: The total goals line is set at 6. Considering both teams' recent offensive struggles and defensive vulnerabilities, this line appears appropriately set.

Key statistics to consider:

• Wild's Offense: Minnesota ranks 25th in the league with 2.70 goals per game and has a power play success rate of 20.53%.
• Islanders' Defense: New York has allowed 227 goals this season, with a penalty kill rate of 73.01%, placing them 30th in the league.

Injuries also play a crucial role:

• Wild: Winger Kirill Kaprizov (23 goals, 29 assists) and center Joel Eriksson Ek (9 goals, 15 assists) are sidelined, impacting Minnesota's offensive capabilities.
• Islanders: Center Mathew Barzal (6 goals, 14 assists) and goalie Semyon Varlamov (10-3-4; 2.89 GAA) are out, affecting both offensive depth and goaltending options.

Minnesota Wild vs. New York Islanders Prediction

Given the current form and statistics, the Minnesota Wild appear to have the upper hand in this matchup. Despite their recent skid, they have demonstrated resilience and possess a slightly more robust defensive structure compared to the Islanders. The absence of key players like Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek is concerning, but the Islanders' ongoing struggles and defensive lapses provide an opportunity for the Wild to capitalize.

Considering the betting odds and team performances, a prudent pick would be:

• Moneyline: Minnesota Wild (-152)
• Over/Under: Under 6 goals

This prediction is based on the expectation that the Wild's defense will contain the Islanders' offense, leading to a low-scoring game with Minnesota emerging victorious.