The Detroit Red Wings host the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena in an inter-conference matchup featuring two teams battling for Eastern Conference playoff positioning. Detroit (18-12-3, 39 points) has found momentum with strong home play and contributions from veterans like Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane (when healthy), while leaning on recent goaltending stability. New York (19-11-3, 41 points) arrives with a strong December surge, powered by Ilya Sorokin’s elite netminding and balanced scoring, but key forward injuries could test depth on the road. This clash pits Detroit’s transition speed and physicality against the Islanders’ structured defense and opportunistic counters—expect a competitive, low-scoring affair with goaltending and special teams in the spotlight.
Venue
Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI (19,515-capacity modern venue known for its steep seating, octopus traditions, and vibrant “Hockeytown” atmosphere; one of the league’s premier home-ice advantages)
Puckdrop: 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit (local); MSGSN (Islanders); streaming on ESPN+; radio on WXYT 97.1 (Detroit) and WRHU 88.7 (Islanders)
Little Caesars Arena’s red lighting and pre-game hype video set the stage for the Islanders’ visit, part of a busy Tuesday NHL slate.
Team Records
The Islanders hold a slight edge in points and wins, ranking top-10 in goals against, while Detroit excels in home scoring (3.4 GF/game at LCA).
| Team | Overall Record | Division Record | Home/Road | Last 10 | GF/GA (Per Game) | PP% / PK% |
| New York Islanders | 19-11-3 (41 pts) | Metropolitan | Road: ~8-6-2 | 7-2-1 | ~3.00 / 2.70 | ~22% / ~82% |
| Detroit Red Wings | 18-12-3 (39 pts) | Atlantic | Home: 9-6-1 | 6-3-1 | ~3.20 / 2.90 | ~23% / ~80% |
Islanders strong in December (6-0-1 stretch noted); Red Wings hot with recent shutouts.
Recent Team Forms
The Islanders are rolling with a strong December (undefeated in regulation in some stretches), highlighted by shutouts and comeback wins—Ilya Sorokin has been stellar, and Anders Lee has provided timely scoring. Road form solid, but injuries to key forwards like Bo Horvat test depth.Detroit has won recent games convincingly, including shutouts and multi-goal performances from DeBrincat; John Gibson’s acquisition has stabilized the crease. Home form strong (wins in last several), averaging high shot volumes.
Injury Report
Both teams dealing with significant absences, particularly up front for Islanders and on wings for Wings.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Reason/Estimated Return | Impact Notes |
| Islanders | Bo Horvat | C | Out | Lower body | Key center; leads team scoring |
| Islanders | Kyle Palmieri | RW | Out | Knee | Scoring winger |
| Red Wings | Patrick Kane | RW | Day-to-Day | Unknown | Veteran scorer; points leader |
| Red Wings | Mason Appleton | F | IR | Unknown | Depth forward |
| Red Wings | Simon Edvinsson | D | Out | Lower body | Young blueliner |
Cores like Barzal (Islanders) and Larkin/DeBrincat (Wings) healthy.
Key Player Matchups
Mathew Barzal (Islanders C) vs. Dylan Larkin (Red Wings C): Playmakers clash; Barzal’s vision vs. Larkin’s speed. Edge: Push.
Brock Nelson/Anders Lee (Islanders) vs. Moritz Seider (Red Wings D): Islanders’ scoring vs. Seider’s physical defense. Edge: Red Wings home.
Ilya Sorokin (Islanders G) vs. John Gibson/Cam Talbot (Red Wings G): Elite vs. hot; Sorokin’s shutouts vs. Gibson’s recent form. Edge: Islanders.
Alex DeBrincat (Red Wings RW) vs. Islanders Defense: DeBrincat’s multi-point games test road PK.
Special teams could decide: Both PPs around 23%.
Series History
Islanders have won recent meetings, including earlier this season (e.g., 5-0 or similar). Detroit strong at home historically vs. NYI, but Islanders on streak. Unders common in recent (low-scoring trends).
Game Odds
New York Islanders 6
Detroit Red Wings – 128
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, December 15, 2025
