Welcome back to NHL Predictions here at Last Word On Hockey, where we provide analysis, insights, and predictions for upcoming NHL games. Tonight, the St. Louis Blues return home after a perfect 4-0 road trip to face a former captain and the New York Islanders.

NHL Predictions with New York Islanders vs St. Louis Blues

Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

How to Watch TV: TNT, truTV, HBO Max

2025-2026 Season Series: 1-0-0
Location: Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri 

Less than four days ago, the St. Louis Blues traded their captain at the trade deadline. Brayden Schenn went from wearing the blue of St. Louis to the blue of Long Island in the matter of a few hours. In only his second game with his new club, Schenn returns to St. Louis. He was a member of the 2019 Stanley Cup winning roster and will be deeply missed in the St. Louis market.
The Islanders are battling Pittsburgh for second place in the Metropolitan division. Neither team looks as if they will catch the Carolina Hurricanes for first place. The main problem will be holding off the Columbus Blue Jackets, who keep hanging around that Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff Wild Card line.
Somehow the Blues have found themselves on a four-game winning streak. Three of the four teams they beat on their streak are currently sitting in a playoff position (and the fourth is just three points out). The Blues still have some veteran leadership on their roster. A little bit of momentum and a lot of hope can carry a team a long way.

Last Stop Before the Island

Patrick Roy’s Islanders will be playing in their final game of a four-game road trip. His team is looking to return to New York with at least four out of a possible eight points. The silver lining in the lacklustre road trip has actually been the play of the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have two points in their last four games, allowing these two teams to tread water in their respective positions.  
The Islander’s last game was a 2-1 victory in a spectacular goaltender duel. Ilya Sorokin outdueled San Jose’s Yaroslav Askarov, and led his team to an overtime victory. Sorokin’s play is easily the reason the Islanders are in the position they are right now. He holds a 23-14-2 record and an astounding six shutouts. If the Islanders are to make the playoffs, it will be largely on the back of their netminder.
That isn’t to say the Islanders don’t produce offence. Calder Trophy candidate defenceman Matthew Schaefer has 20 goals and 46 points, putting him second on his team. Only forward Mathew Barzal has more points. Veteran forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau just signed a contract extension to remain in New York as well. He provides a very solid locker room presence for the young core of the Islanders as they try to make a playoff run.

Surging St. Louis

Don’t look now but the St. Louis Blues have won five of their six games since returning from the Olympic Break. Even amidst the trade rumours surrounding veteran franchise players, the team kept playing. They will face a true test this week. The Blues will play three games in four nights, all against current playoff positioned teams. Not only will a win over the Islanders help the Penguins in the east, but it could also put the Blues just six points out of the playoffs. 
The thought of the postseason has long been absent from many in St. Louis. That said, the Blues have made two historic runs in the past. Just last year after the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, the Blues were the best team in hockey. Before that, they went from last in the league to winning the Stanley Cup in 2019. The improbable has been done before, so why can’t it happen again in St. Louis?
The time for the future core of the Blues is now. Head coach Jim Montgomery has placed young defencemen Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux on the ice in key situations, including the power play. Young forwards Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway have found incredible chemistry together. Hard working forward Jake Neighbours continues to follow in the footsteps of his former captain Brayden Schenn and leads the Blues with his heart on his sleeve. This is a Blues team that, with a little heart, can be quite dangerous down the stretch. 

NHL Prediction:

Momentum in hockey is a scary thing. When you have it, it’s incredible. When it’s against you, everything feels impossible. In the last four games, the Blues are clearly the better team. Robert Thomas is red hot, and is only benefitting from the increased ice time. Emotions will be high when Schenn hits the ice. He has always been someone who plays with their heart on their sleeve. He will be hoping that helps the Islanders right the ship. 

Prediction: Blues win 3-2 (OT).

Prop Bets:

The over/under for this game is at 5.5 goals. With a predicted five total goals, we are taking the under at -105. Thomas has four goals in his last five games. With the hot hand, we will take him at +320. We like Schenn to get his first goal with the Islanders back in St. Louis. We’ll take him at +320 as well. 

Main Photo: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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