Anaheim Ducks vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions for Tuesday October 20 2026
Anaheim has a lousy little scheduling problem Tuesday. The Ducks play the Rangers on Monday, then turn around and face the Islanders the next night. At least they don’t have to fly across the country between games. But two NHL games in two nights is still two NHL games in two nights, and New York has been doing a pretty good job keeping the puck out of its net.
The Ducks visit UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Tuesday, October 20, with puck drop at 7:00 PM ET. The Islanders are around -159 on one reference board, with Anaheim at +135 and the total in the 6-to-6.5 range. For more hockey predictions, check out our free NHL picks.
Anaheim Has To Find Some Legs
Anaheim comes into the week at 4-3-0, and the schedule isn’t doing the Ducks any favors. They lost their last two completed games before Monday, both against Calgary and Boston, and now they’re playing two New York teams on consecutive nights. The Ducks have enough offense to make this interesting, but they’ve also been giving up too many good looks. That’s a bad habit when the legs start getting tired.
The Ducks are scoring 3.14 goals per game and allowing 3.00. Their power play has been good, converting 26.9% of its chances, but the penalty kill sits at 80%. Anaheim has also won only 43.2% of its faceoffs. That’s near the bottom of the league, and it means spending extra time chasing the puck. Against a team that likes to make opponents work for every goal, those lost draws can add up.
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Anaheim has gotten good production from its young forwards, but the goaltending hasn’t been particularly sharp. The team save percentage is around .886, and the primary starter has been below .890 through the early schedule. That’s not much room for error. Troy Terry remains sidelined with a hip injury, and Ryan Poehling has a lower-body issue. The Ducks can score, but missing forward depth while playing on consecutive nights isn’t helping.
The Islanders Have Been Stingy
New York is 4-3-1 and coming off a win over Toronto. The Islanders haven’t been spectacular offensively, but they haven’t needed to be. They’ve been winning games by making the other club work for its chances and getting timely saves. The schedule is in their favor here, too. Anaheim has to play Monday night. New York gets to prepare for Tuesday without that extra game on its legs.
The Islanders are allowing only 2.13 goals per game, one of the better marks in the league. Their penalty kill is at 86.7%, and they’re winning 53% of their faceoffs. That’s a nice combination against Anaheim. The Ducks want power-play chances and have trouble winning draws. New York has been good at killing penalties and getting possession back. The Islanders’ offense is producing 3.00 goals a night, which is plenty when the defense is playing this well.
The Islanders’ goaltending has been excellent, with the leading netminder carrying a save percentage around .940 and a goals-against average below 1.70. Those numbers won’t stay that pretty forever, but right now the club is getting the saves it needs. Mathew Barzal is dealing with a knee injury, while Alexander Romanov remains out on defense. That hurts New York’s depth, although the results suggest the Islanders have been managing.
Anaheim Ducks vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions
New York Islanders Moneyline (-159)
I’ll take the Islanders. Anaheim has a dangerous power play, and that’s the part that worries me. But the Ducks are playing their second game in two nights, their faceoff numbers are poor, and New York has been giving up barely two goals a game. That’s a tough combination. The price isn’t cheap at -159, so I wouldn’t chase it much higher. At this number, though, I’ll back the home team.
Under 6.5 Goals
I’m going under 6.5. Anaheim can score, but the Islanders have been good at taking the fun out of games for opposing offenses. New York’s penalty kill is strong, and its goaltending has been the difference in several games. The danger is a tired Anaheim defense coughing up goals late. Still, I think the Islanders are more interested in controlling this one than getting into a six-goal shootout. A 3-2 New York win would suit me fine.
Final Picks: New York Islanders Moneyline (-159) and Under 6.5 Goals
This preview was completed October 19, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, starting goaltenders, and team records may change before Tuesday’s game.
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