The New York Islanders (11-7-2) visit the Detroit Red Wings (12-7-1) tonight at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit — the second meeting between these teams this season. New York dominated the first matchup on October 23, rolling to a 7–2 win behind Emil Heineman’s two goals and a .941 performance from David Rittich.
The Islanders enter playing their sharpest hockey of the season. They’ve won five of their last six and picked up points in eight of their last ten, with a balanced scoring group led by Bo Horvat (13 goals, 24 points) and Mathew Barzal (15 points).
Their team numbers reflect that steadiness: 3.20 goals per game, a 3.10 goals-against, and one of the NHL’s most efficient penalty kills at 82.4%, bolstered by five short-handed goals, tied for the league’s best.
Ilya Sorokin (6–5–2, 2.91 GAA, .898 SV%) and David Rittich (5–2–0, 3.15 GAA, .896 SV%) give New York a relatively stable goaltending tandem, and both will be motivated after limiting Detroit to just two goals in the previous meeting.
Detroit, however, remains one of the league’s most improved and sits atop the Atlantic Division with 25 points. They’ve won three of their last four, including solid victories over Seattle and the Rangers, though their last five also include two losses where they surrendered five or more goals.
Their team profile reflects that volatility: they score 3.00 goals per game while allowing 3.10, and their penalty kill dips slightly below the Islanders’ at 80.4%.
Offensively, the Red Wings lean heavily on their top trio — Dylan Larkin (12 goals, 24 points), Alex DeBrincat (23 points), and Lucas Raymond (22 points) — but they lack the secondary scoring depth that has helped carry New York.
Goaltending remains Detroit’s biggest uncertainty. Starter John Gibson enters at 4–5–1 with a 3.32 GAA and .875 save percentage, while Cam Talbot (8–2–0, 2.71 GAA, .897 SV%) has been steadier but still inconsistent game-to-game. Against an Islanders team averaging nearly 29 shots per game, Detroit will need cleaner defensive coverage than they’ve shown recently.
Prediction
Expect a somewhat high-paced game with goals and momentum swings. The home crowd and slight edge tilt toward Detroit, but New York’s recent form keeps them firmly in the mix.
Projected Final Score: Red Wings 4, Islanders 3
How to Watch Islanders vs. Red Wings
Puck drop for the matchup between the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings is set for 7:00 PM Eastern at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The game airs live locally on MSG2 and FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
Out-of-market viewers can stream the game 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.
New York Islanders vs. Detroit Red Wings
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
TV: MSG2, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Streaming: ESPN+, Gotham Sports