New York Islanders vs Anaheim Prediction 20 October 2026
🔊 The Islanders have been following an unusual pattern so far this season: win, loss, win again-this cycle has defined their campaign from the very start. After a successful trip to Toronto, Peter DeBoer’s side will finally look to string together back-to-back victories, despite dealing with their fair share of injury concerns. Anaheim aren’t in the best shape either. The Ducks are coming off three straight defeats and just conceded five goals to the Rangers last night. Now, the Californians face another test in New York, this time with little time to recover.
Both sides defended home turf in this matchup.
📊 Last season, these teams traded emphatic home victories. The Islanders struck first in New York with a 5-2 win, as Anders Lee racked up four points, scoring twice and adding two assists. In March, Anaheim responded on their own ice with a 5-1 triumph, snapping the Islanders’ five-game winning streak in the process. Cutter Gauthier netted a brace that night, while Ville Husso turned aside 42 of 43 shots. Now, the sides meet again at the Islanders’ arena, where the hosts held the upper hand in last year’s head-to-head.
Head-to-head statistics New York Islanders - Anaheim
A win that comes at a cost
The Islanders have struggled to build momentum after their wins, consistently alternating between strong performances and setbacks since the start of the season. In their last two outings, the Isles fell to Ottawa in a shootout (1-2), before bouncing back with a convincing 4-1 victory over Toronto. Against the Maple Leafs, New York converted four of their twenty shots on target. Peter DeBoer's side ranks among the league’s top ten in faceoff win percentage (52.7%), but discipline remains an issue-they average 4.1 penalties per game. That’s particularly problematic now, as injuries have sidelined several key players. Mathew Barzal is out, Alexander Romanov faces a six-to-eight month layoff with a torn ACL, while Matias Maccelli and Cal Ritchie are set to miss a few weeks.
In Toronto, the Islanders were forced to shuffle their lines early, as Ritchie exited after his first shift and Maccelli left the ice soon after. Despite losing two forwards, the visitors managed to see out the win. Anthony Duclair opened the scoring off a Jean-Gabriel Pageau assist, and in the third period, Simon Holmstrom struck twice in four minutes to put the game beyond doubt. Pageau logged 19 minutes and 31 seconds of ice time, won 65% of his faceoffs, and made a crucial shot block while shorthanded. Ahead of their clash with Anaheim, the club called up Mitchell Chaffee from the AHL-he’s tallied six points (4+2) in six games for Hamilton and could make his Islanders debut.
Match Results: New York Islanders
Little remains of their promising start.
Anaheim opened the season with four wins in their first five games, but then suffered three straight defeats. Joel Quenneville’s side now sit at an even record-four wins and four losses. Their home loss to Boston was particularly painful, as the Ducks squandered a two-goal lead and conceded three times while shorthanded. Over their opening eight games, Anaheim have allowed 26 goals. Still, the first period remains a strong suit for the Ducks: they average 1.4 goals in the opening frame, ranking second in the NHL in that category. However, recent results show that a fast start is no longer enough to secure victories. Trevor Moore, Troy Terry, and Ryan Poehling are all sidelined with injuries.
The Ducks’ most recent meeting with the Rangers turned into another tough night. After a grueling 15-hour journey to New York-caused by technical issues with their plane-the Californians found themselves trailing almost immediately. Sean Durzi opened the scoring less than two minutes in, and the hosts added three more goals in the second period. By the start of the third, the Rangers’ lead had ballooned to five. Only in the closing minutes did Nick Jensen and AJ Greer pull two back, scoring 36 seconds apart. Anaheim ultimately fell 2-5, with Joel Quenneville admitting postgame that his top players underperformed. Now, the Ducks must look for answers without the benefit of an extra rest day. On a positive note, Mikael Granlund returned to the lineup after missing a game.
Match Results: Anaheim Ducks
Prediction for the 1st period
Anaheim rarely fall behind in the opening twenty minutes. The Ducks have gone seven straight games without losing the first period, and on the road, this bet has hit in six of their last seven outings. Even with their current struggles, they remain among the league’s best when it comes to scoring before the first intermission. The pick: Anaheim to avoid defeat in the first period at 1.49.
Match Result Prediction
The Islanders have traditionally enjoyed strong results against Anaheim on home ice. In nine of their last ten head-to-head games in New York, the Islanders have avoided defeat in regulation. The hosts have every reason to expect another positive outcome: they’re coming off a win over Toronto, while the Ducks are reeling from three straight losses. The pick: Islanders to avoid defeat in regulation at 1.4.
Total Goals Prediction
When Anaheim travel to face the Islanders, their offense rarely puts up more than three goals. In their last five head-to-head encounters in New York, the Ducks have consistently scored under 3.5 goals. The California side are currently going through a rough patch and only managed to find the net late in their previous outing. The pick here is Anaheim under 3.5 team goals at odds of 1.38.
*Odds are approximate and may vary across different bookmakers.
⭐️ Editor’s Prediction
Anaheim made a solid start to the season, but their defensive play has noticeably dipped in recent games. Over their last five outings, the Ducks have conceded an average of 3.2 goals per game and just allowed the Rangers to score five times. The Islanders, on the other hand, are starting to find their rhythm offensively. In four of their last five matches, the Isles have netted at least three goals, and they managed to put four past Toronto despite registering only twenty shots on target. Even losing two forwards during that game didn’t stop the hosts from securing the win. Now, New York return home to face an opponent who just endured a tough loss and came away empty-handed again. My pick is Islanders Over 2.5 Team Goals.
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Betting Tips: New York Islanders - Anaheim Ducks
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