New York Islanders vs Chicago Prediction 24 March 2026
🔊 On the ice, teams with differing motivations face off. The Islanders are still fighting for a playoff spot and need points, while Chicago have already settled their tournament objectives and are playing out the season. Will the hosts live up to their favorite status, or can the visitors put up a fight?
Head-to-Head
📊 This season, the teams have faced each other once, with the Islanders securing a victory in a shootout (3-2). Over their last five games, New York has claimed 3 wins, while Chicago has 2. Matches between these rivals often turn into tight battles, with 4 of their last 5 encounters being decided by just one goal.
Head-to-head statistics New York Islanders - Chicago

New York Islanders Team Overview
The Islanders sit in 8th place in the Eastern Conference with 85 points and a goal difference of 206-202. They are currently in a playoff spot, fiercely competing for their position.
In their last 5 games, the Islanders have secured 3 victories. Most recently, they narrowly defeated Columbus (1-0), showcasing a disciplined defensive performance. However, there have been less successful outings, such as the loss to Montreal (3-7), where they made numerous mistakes. Overall, the hosts focus on organized play and defensive reliability, though their defense can be inconsistent at times.
Match Results: New York Islanders

Chicago Blackhawks Team Overview
Chicago hold the 15th spot in the Western Conference, tallying 65 points with a goal difference of 183-225. The team has already lost their playoff hopes and is experiencing a rough patch this season.
In their last five games, Chicago have managed just one victory, against Minnesota (2-1). Before that win, they suffered back-to-back losses to Colorado (1-4) and Nashville (2-3). The main issue for the visitors is their defense. Over the past five games, they have conceded 16 goals, averaging 3.2 per game, frequently making errors under pressure.
Match Results: Chicago Blackhawks
⚡️ Key Players
For the Islanders, Bo Horvat stands out with 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) over the last 5 games, consistently contributing to their offense. Mathew Barzal has tallied 4 points (all assists) and remains the team's pivotal playmaker.For Chicago, Connor Bedard remains the main leader with 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in the last 5 games, creating the primary offensive threat. Frank Nazar added 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist), but overall, the support for the leader is limited.
🥅 Goaltenders
The Islanders' top choice is Ilya Sorokin (2.53 goals against average and a 91.3% save percentage), who is having a reliable season and frequently bails out the team. David Rittich serves as the backup and appears less consistent.For Chicago, Spencer Knight is the mainstay (2.64 goals against average and a 90.9% save percentage), showing a decent level of play but often facing a high volume of shots. Arvid Soderblom (3.72 goals against average and an 87.9% save percentage) significantly lags in reliability.
Editor's Prediction
In this matchup, it's logical to consider the current form and tournament motivation of the teams involved. The Islanders are still in the playoff hunt, trailing their closest rivals by just one point, so they will be playing at home with focus and determination to secure a result.
Chicago, on the other hand, are no longer in contention for tournament objectives and have shown weak performances, consistently dropping points. The visitors are unstable and frequently make defensive errors. It's also important to note the trends-Islanders have avoided a regulation-time loss in 8 of their last 9 head-to-head encounters, while Chicago have failed to win in regulation time in 9 of their last 10 games. Considering all these factors, a regulation-time victory for the Islanders appears to be the optimal choice.