| MATCHUP | New York Islanders | Nashville Predators |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 24-15-5 | 20-19-4 |
| Where | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN | |
| When | Thursday, January 8, 2026 | |
| Time | 08:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
In this article, we will formulate an Islanders vs Predators Prediction for this NHL game on Thursday, January 8th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.
Nashville Predators Preview
The Predators have 42 points this season with a 19-19-4 record, and are 21-21 ATS and 22-20 in over/under. They have a 10-9-2 home record and a 9-10-2 road record and are sitting 4th in the Central Division. They are coming off a 6-2 road loss to the Oilers, and their previous three games were a 4-3 road win over the Flames, a 4-1 road loss to the Kraken, and a 4-2 road win over the Golden Knights.
Offensively, the Predators are averaging 2.81 goals per game and are scoring 19.8% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.38 goals per game and are killing 81.4% of their opponent’s power plays.
Ryan O’Reilly leads the Predators with 36 points, also leading the team in assists with 24, while Steven Stamkos leads the team in goals with 18. Juuse Saros is the starting goalie for the Predators, and he has a 16-14-3 record, with 3.03 GAA and .894 SV%. Justus Annunen is the backup goalie and he has a 3-5-1 record, with 3.29 GAA and .878 SV%.
New York Islanders Preview
The Islanders have 52 points this season with a 24-15-4 record, and are 22-21 ATS and 19-24 in over/under. They have a 14-8-2 home record and a 10-7-2 road record and are sitting 2nd in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 9-0 home win over the Devils, and their previous three games were a 4-3 home overtime win over the Maple Leafs, a 7-2 home loss to the Mammoth, and a 3-2 road shootout win over the Blackhawks.
Offensively, the Islanders are averaging 2.91 goals per game and are scoring 15.9% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.70 goals per game and are killing 81.8% of their opponent’s power plays.
Mathew Barzal leads the Islanders with 35 points, also leading the team in assists with 24, while Bo Horvat leads the team in goals with 21. Ilya Sorokin is the starting goalie for the Islanders, and he has a 13-10-2 record, with 2.45 GAA and .915 SV%. David Rittich is the backup goalie and he has a 11-5-2 record, with 2.48 GAA and .907 SV%.
New York Islanders @ Nashville Predators Betting Trends: January 8, 2026
Why the Nashville Predators will win
- The Predators have won each of their last six home games against the Islanders.
- The Islanders have lost each of their last five night games at Bridgestone Arena.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the last four games between the Islanders and Predators.
- The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six games at Bridgestone Arena.
- The Predators have won the second period in each of their last seven games as favorites.
Why the New York Islanders will win
- The underdogs have won four of the Predators’ last five games.
- The Predators have lost four of their last six games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Islanders have covered the puck line in 14 of their last 15 games as underdogs following a home win.
- The Predators have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Predators have lost the third period in eight of their last nine games at Bridgestone Arena when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Nine of the Islanders’ last 10 road games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Predators’ last four night games against Metropolitan Division opponents at Bridgestone Arena have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Predators’ last 10 games against opponents on a winning streak.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Islanders’ last eight Thursday night games.
Nashville Predators Player Prop Facts
- Brady Skjei has recorded at least one assist in each of his last five home appearances against the Islanders.
- Michael Bunting has scored a goal in each of his last four appearances against the Islanders.
New York Islanders Player Prop Facts
- Mathew Barzal has recorded an assist in four of the Islanders’ last five games as underdogs against the Predators.
- Kyle Palmieri has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances against the Predators.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Nashville Predators rank 28th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.38).
- The Nashville Predators rank 25th in the league for goals per game this season (2.81).
- The New York Islanders rank 5th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.70).
- The New York Islanders rank 27th in the league in power play percentage this season (15.91%).
Islanders vs Predators Prediction
The Preds are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings against the Islanders and have won their last five meetings in Nashville.
In this Islanders vs Predators Prediction, the Predators are coming as -117 home favorites. The Islanders have been the better team this season, as they have more points and wins than the Preds but both teams have exactly 10 home/away wins. They both are 3-2 in their last 5 games each so this matchup looks as balanced as it gets from a side perspective. Both teams have been playing some higher-scoring games lately, as they are 7-1 to the over in their last 8 games combined, with the Islanders coming off a 9-goal outburst against the Devils. Take the over 5.5 in this one.