The Detroit Red Wings (5-2-0) visit the New York Islanders (3-3-0) tonight at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
Detroit comes into this matchup second in the Atlantic Division, having strung together five straight wins before a 4-2 loss against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.
The club is showing a strong resurgence, with captain Dylan Larkin leading the charge and the defense anchored by Moritz Seider, showing better structure.
Their challenge tonight: playing the second leg of a back-to-back and squaring off on the road against a motivated home team.
The Islanders are tied at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, but have momentum, riding a three-game winning streak, recently posting a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
New faces like rookie Matthew Schaefer are contributing, though goaltender Ilya Sorokin is adjusting after a rough start that prompted a coaching change. The Islanders will look to leverage home-ice and momentum to challenge Detroit’s pace and transition game.
Detroit’s offense has been driven by a handful of key contributors, with five players already scoring at least two goals. The Islanders, meanwhile, are trying to build on recent wins under Patrick Roy, tightening their defensive structure and looking for steadier play in front of Sorokin.
Prediction
Expect a competitive, tightly-contested game with both teams showing strong moments. Detroit’s transition speed and recent form give them an offensive edge, but fatigue and the travel for the second leg of a back-to-back could limit their impact. The Islanders’ home ice and rising confidence tilt the balance slightly in their favor if they can keep Detroit off their rhythm and win the tight moments.
Projected Final Score: Islanders 4, Red Wings 3
How to Watch Red Wings vs. Islanders
Puck drop for tonight’s game between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders is set for 7:00 PM Eastern at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
The game airs live locally on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and MSG and streams live on the Gotham Sports app.
Out-of-market viewers can catch the game on NHL Center Ice or on ESPN+.
You can watch the game free on ESPN+ by starting a trial with DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV, all of which include ESPN+. After signing up, activate your ESPN plan and link it to your MyDisney login. If you already have Hulu + Live TV, you’ll automatically get access through that account. Remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t plan to keep the service.
Detroit Red Wings vs. New York Islanders
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, MSG
Streaming: Gotham Sports, ESPN+