New York Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 03/21/26

The New York Islanders are traveling to Montreal to face the Canadiens for the second time this season. Both teams are vying for playoff positions, so every point is crucial as the season winds down. In their previous matchup, they combined for seven goals, and we could see a similar outcome in this game.

The Islanders have been strong on the road, with an above-average defensive unit. However, their success can largely be attributed to their goaltending. They currently rank first in expected goals saved above average (xGSA) by a wide margin. Ilya Sorokin has been outstanding, giving his team a great chance to win in most matches.

On the other hand, the Canadiens average fewer than 27 shots per game but rank second in the league for goals scored. Jacob Fowler is confirmed to start in goal, and while he has performed well in his limited NHL experience, the defense in front of him has struggled with consistency. We might need an empty-net goal to hit the Over, so we’ll lean that way and hope the puck finds the back of the net.

Islanders vs Canadiens Prediction: Over 5.5 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.