The Vancouver Canucks will travel to UBS Arena on Friday to take on the New York Islanders. The Islanders come into this game as favorites with solid positioning in the Metropolitan Division, while the Canucks have endured a roller-coaster season and sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division. Which team will get the win on Long Island? Continue reading for my Canucks vs Islanders prediction.
Our Canucks vs Islanders Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Vancouver Canucks vs New York Islanders
- Date & Time: Friday, December 19, 2025, 7:00 PM
- Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
- Broadcast: NHL Network
Key Storylines
Recent Form
The Islanders enter this game with a record of 19-12-3 on the season. They had a three-game winning streak snapped in a shootout loss to Detroit in their last game. Despite some fluctuations, New York remains competitive and sits near the top of its division. The Canucks, meanwhile, sit below .500 with a 13-17-3 record. They have shown signs of life by their last two games, including a shutout of the Rangers and a 2-1 win over the Devils. Still, the Canucks sit in last place in the Pacific Division and will try to move up by winning games like this one.
Goaltending
New York is expected to start Ilya Sorokin in goal, who continues to anchor the Islanders in the crease. He recently delivered a strong performance in a shootout victory where he stopped 32 shots en route to the extra session win. Sorokin’s consistency and experience give New York a dependable backbone.
Vancouver counters with Thatcher Demko, who has been solid in recent outings, including a 23-save shutout against the Rangers. But Demko’s defensive support will be tested by an Islanders attack that has been opportunistic throughout the season.
Key Skaters
For the Islanders, scoring depth is spread across contributors such as Emil Heineman and others stepping into bigger roles in the absence of some injured pieces. Bo Horvat’s availability remains uncertain as he deals with a lower-body issue that could impact New York’s top line. New York’s power play has been effective recently, converting at an above-average rate in its last several contests.
On the Vancouver side, Conor Garland has been one of the more consistent point producers in recent games, especially with Elias Pettersson on injured reserve. Marco Rossi and new acquisition Zeev Buium have shown promise since arriving in the Quinn Hughes trade, but Vancouver is still searching for regular scoring depth.
Best Player Props
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Emil Heineman (NYI) | |
| Conor Garland (VAN) |
Betting Trends & H2H
- This is the first of two regular-season games scheduled between the Canucks and Islanders this year.
- The Islanders are 18-16 on the puckline this season.
- Vancouver is 16-17 in the puckline market this year.
Canucks vs Islanders Model Projection
Final Thoughts
