Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
Puck drop: 7:45 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSG Sportsnet (Islanders), Sportsnet Pacific (Canucks)
This is the first meeting of the 2026-27 season between the teams. The Canucks are on a four-game losing streak and struggling early under new coach Manny Malhotra, while the Islanders sit at .400 with a solid home record (2-1-0) and elite goaltending from Ilya Sorokin.
Injury Reports
Vancouver Canucks:
Thatcher Demko (G, hip): On IR; expected out until at least late December (hoping for a pre-Christmas return).
Filip Chytil (C, shoulder): On IR; expected out until late October.
Akil Thomas (C, undisclosed): On IR/non-roster; expected out until around October 22.
Mackenzie MacEachern (LW, undisclosed): On IR/non-roster; expected out until around October 25.
Jack Thompson (D, undisclosed): On IR/non-roster; expected out until around October 17.
Kevin Lankinen and Leevi Meriläinen are handling the net.
New York Islanders:
Mathew Barzal (C, knee): On IR; skating on his own but no firm timeline (out for the foreseeable future).
Alexander Romanov (D, ACL): Out 6–8 months after surgery (torn right ACL sustained vs. Rangers).
Bo Horvat has been available after a recent upper-body scare and is expected to play. Adam Pelech took a maintenance day but is expected in the lineup.
Current/Projected Rosters and Lineups
Vancouver Canucks:
Forwards: Elias Pettersson, Paul Cotter, Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser, Marco Rossi, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Liam Öhgren, Drew O’Connor, Linus Karlsson, Brendan Gallagher, Aatu Räty, Max Sasson, Arshdeep Bains.
Defense: Filip Hronek, Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson (D), Luke Schenn, Jamie Oleksiak, Guillaume Brisebois, Victor Mancini.
Goalies: Kevin Lankinen (likely starter based on recent usage), Leevi Meriläinen.
Projected lines (recent games):
DeBrusk – Pettersson – Lekkerimäki
Cotter – Rossi – Boeser
Öhgren – O’Connor – Karlsson
Sasson/Räty – Gallagher depth.
Defense: Buium–Hronek, Pettersson (D)–Willander, Brisebois/Schenn options.
New York Islanders:
Forwards: Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, Brayden Schenn, Emil Heineman, Anthony Duclair, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Calum Ritchie, Victor Eklund, Simon Holmström, Ondřej Palát, Matias Maccelli, Casey Cizikas.
Defense: Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Logan Stanley, Matthew Schaefer, Tony DeAngelo, Scott Mayfield, Matthew Kessel.
Goalies: Ilya Sorokin (projected starter), Semyon Varlamov.
Projected lines (from recent practice):
Heineman – Horvat – Palmieri
Schenn – Ritchie – Eklund
Palát – Pageau – Duclair
Maccelli – Cizikas – Holmström.
Defense: Stanley–Schaefer, Pelech–Pulock, DeAngelo–Mayfield/Kessel.
Recent Team Forms
Canucks (2-5-0): Four-game losing streak after a competitive start. Recent results include losses to Carolina, New Jersey, and a 6-2 defeat at the Rangers (Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson scored). Offense has shown flashes (Cotter leading early goals, Pettersson producing points), but defensive structure and goaltending (especially Lankinen’s early numbers) have been issues. They are 1-3-0 on the road.
Islanders (2-3-0): Mixed start with strong home showings (6-0 win over New Jersey, 4-1 over Chicago) but losses to the Rangers and a 5-3 home setback to Tampa Bay. Bo Horvat leads the team in scoring. Defense has been reshuffled after Romanov’s season-ending injury, with Stanley and Schaefer stepping up. Sorokin has been excellent early. They are 2-1-0 at home.
Series History
First meeting of 2026-27. Recent seasons have been competitive and relatively even, with both teams claiming road wins in the prior campaign. Horvat faces his former team (he captained the Canucks before being traded). Overall historical series leans slightly toward Vancouver in some stretches, but home ice and current form favor the Islanders in this matchup.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Elias Pettersson / Paul Cotter / Jake DeBrusk vs. Islanders defense (Pelech, Pulock, Stanley/Schaefer): Vancouver’s top scorers will test a blue line missing Romanov. Cotter has been a surprise goal scorer.
Bo Horvat / Kyle Palmieri / Brayden Schenn vs. Canucks pairs (Hronek, Buium): Horvat (former Canuck) leads New York’s attack and will look to exploit Vancouver’s defensive inconsistencies.
Goaltending: Kevin Lankinen/Leevi Meriläinen vs. Ilya Sorokin: This is the clearest edge. Sorokin has been outstanding early; Vancouver’s tandem has struggled for consistency without Demko.
Secondary: Young talent (Lekkerimäki, Öhgren, Schaefer, Eklund, Ritchie) and special teams. Islanders’ structure and home ice vs. Canucks’ need for secondary scoring and better defensive play.
Betting Trends
Canucks have dropped four straight and are allowing goals at a high rate. Islanders are stronger at home with elite goaltending. Totals have been higher in some Canucks games due to defensive issues, while Islanders games have been more controlled.
The Islanders enter as clear favorites behind Sorokin and home ice against a Canucks team searching for answers on a difficult road trip. Expect a structured, lower-event game that favors New York’s defensive identity.
Game Odds
Vancouver Canucks 6
New York Islanders – 225
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 12, 2026
