Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET
Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Broadcast: MSGSN / Gotham Sports App (Islanders); Victory+ (Ducks local); ESPN+ (national)
Radio: Islanders Radio Network (88.7 FM / 103.9 FM / 1050 AM) | Ducks Radio Network
Game Context
- Islanders: 75 points, 3rd in Metropolitan Division (tied with Pittsburgh for 2nd; one game in hand on some rivals). Strong road warriors at 18-11-3 (most road wins in the Metro, tied for 2nd-most league-wide). Balanced attack, opportunistic defense, and elite comeback ability (three straight multi-goal comebacks from 2-0 deficits — tied for 2nd-longest such streak in NHL history).
- Ducks: 69 points, 2nd in Pacific Division (trailing Vegas by 1 point with games in hand). Excellent home team (20-8-1) but vulnerable after recent defensive lapses. Rely on young scoring depth and goaltending consistency.
This is the second meeting of the 2025-26 season (Islanders won the first 5-2 on Dec. 11, 2025 at UBS Arena).
Injury Report
New York Islanders
- Jonathan Drouin (LW): Day-to-Day – Lower Body (missed March 1 vs. FLA but full practice Tuesday; 20 points in 53 GP — trending toward playing)
- Ryan Pulock (D): Day-to-Day / Maintenance – Missed Tuesday practice (assist in Sunday’s win)
- Long-term: Alexander Romanov (D, Out for Season – Shoulder), Pierre Engvall (LW, Out – Ankle), others on IR
Anaheim Ducks
- Troy Terry (RW): Day-to-Day – Upper Body (missed last 3+ games; last played Feb. 25, 45 points in 46 GP)
- Mikael Granlund (C): Day-to-Day – Upper Body (missed since Feb. 2; 27 points)
- Long-term: Petr Mrazek (G, Out for Season – Lower Body), Frank Vatrano (RW, IR – Shoulder)
- Ryan Strome (C): Day-to-Day – Illness (scratched recently)
Key note: Islanders get a potential boost if Drouin returns; Ducks thin up front and on the back end without Terry/Granlund. David Rittich confirmed starter for NYI (second straight).
Recent Form (Last 5-10 Games)
Islanders: 5-0-0 (season-high streak; 8-1-1 in last 10)
- 3/1 vs FLA: W 5-4 (comeback; Matthew Schaefer 2G-1A, Anders Lee GWG at 0:32 left; Rittich 29/33 saves)
- Recent: Multiple OT road wins post-Olympic break; nine of last 12 on road.
Ducks: 4-1-0 (five-game win streak snapped)
- 3/3 vs COL: L 1-5
- 3/1 vs CGY: W 3-2 (SO)
- Strong home play but defensive issues exposed in recent loss.
Islanders enter red-hot with momentum on a four-game West Coast trip; Ducks solid at home but reeling from blowout.
Key Player Matchups
- Matthew Schaefer (NYI rookie D, 20G – leads all rookies) vs. Anaheim young core (Beckett Sennecke 19G, Cutter Gauthier 29G/53P – Ducks leading scorer, 6G in last 6): Schaefer’s emergence vs. Ducks’ rookie firepower; edge to NYI if Schaefer exploits gaps.
- Anders Lee / Bo Horvat / Mathew Barzal (NYI top-6) vs. Ducks defense: Lee (34P, one goal from franchise milestone) owns this matchup historically (2G vs. ANA in Dec.); Barzal’s playmaking key.
- Cutter Gauthier vs. Islanders shutdown pairs (Schaefer-Mayfield, Pelech-DeAngelo): Gauthier’s hot streak tested by NYI structure.
- Goaltending: David Rittich (NYI: 13-8-3, 2.63 GAA, .899 SV%) vs. Ville Husso (ANA expected: 6-5-1, 3.26 GAA, .882 SV% — back-to-back duty after Dostal vs. COL). Rittich hot (31/33 in Dec. win over ANA).
- Special Teams: Islanders opportunistic; Ducks home PP/PK edge but depleted forwards limit chances.
Projected NYI lines (per preview): Palat-Horvat-Barzał; Duclair-Ritchie-Heineman; Lee-Pageau-Holmstrom; MacLean-Cizikas-Gatcomb.
Series History
- All-time: Competitive, but Islanders dominant recently.
- 2025-26: Islanders lead 1-0 (5-2 win Dec. 11).
- Recent trend: Low-to-moderate scoring in cross-conference; Islanders 2-0-0 on current road trip (both 4-3 OT). Ducks winless in last season series vs. NYI.
Betting Trends
- Islanders: 5-0 SU streak; 18-11-3 road; Over in recent high-event wins but strong road unders; excellent as slight dogs/road favorites.
- Ducks: 20-8-1 home; 4-1 last 5 before COL loss; Under hits in structured home games; vulnerable vs. hot Eastern teams.
- Head-to-head: 5-2 total in Dec.; cross-conference games trend 5-6 goals. Sharp money on Islanders momentum.
Game Odds
New York Islanders 6.5
Anaheim Ducks – 110
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, March 3, 2026
