The New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins will meet in the NHL on Thursday night. This is the first game of the season for the Isles, who will look to prevent Pittsburgh from winning a second game in a row to start the year. Before these Metropolitan Division opponents play in Pittsburgh, continue reading to get my Islanders vs Penguins prediction.
Our Islanders vs Penguins Pick
- Pick: Islanders moneyline
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Islanders vs Penguins Odds
| Odds | Line |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Islanders –120 | Penguins +100 |
| Puckline | Islanders –1.5 (+185) | Penguins +1.5 (–250) |
| Total | Over/Under 5.5 |
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Islanders were among the lowest-scoring teams last season, ranking 27th in goals scored. They averaged 2.7 goals per game and conceded 3.1 goals per game. Their goal differential of –36 ranked in the bottom 10 in the NHL. Their power play was among the worst in the league and the Islanders will try to get off to a good start on special teams here.
The Penguins were more middle of the pack on offense last season, but were painfully weak on defense. But the Penguins looked great on both sides of the ice to open this season. They defeated the New York Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden and will try to build on that result in this matchup.
Goaltending
Ilya Sorokin is expected to start the season in net for the Islanders. He started 61 games for the Isles last season and had a 2.71 GAA. Pittsburgh has acquired Arturs Silovs, who earned a shutout in his debut against the Rangers. That immediate impact gives the Penguins a solid goaltending option and Silovs will try to prove that was no fluke here.
Key skaters
- The Islanders will debut 18-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer, their top overall pick. He will be slotted into their third pairing alongside veteran Scott Mayfield.
- Justin Brazeau scored a pair of goals for the Penguins in their wins over the Rangers, while Evgeni Malkin had two assists.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Ilya Sorokin (NYI) | Over 23.5 Saves |
| Arturs Silovs (PIT) | Over 22.5 Saves |
| Sidney Crosby | Over 1.5 shots on goal |
Islanders vs Penguins Model Projection
Score Projection: Islanders 3 – Penguins 2
Win Probability: Islanders 52% | Penguins 48%
Final Thoughts
I am expecting a close game between the Islanders and Penguins on Thursday night. The Islanders will have to prove themselves right away against a team that looked very good in their season opener. But I would argue that the Penguins’ win over the Rangers will age poorly as this season goes on, as the Rangers have a ton of roster issues that will ultimately make them look worse than they were expected to be. I’ll take the Islanders to win this game on the road as a slight favorite to start their season off with a victory.
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