Los Angeles Kings vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 22 2026
You know things haven’t been going well when everybody makes a big deal out of your first win in seven games. That’s where the Kings are right now. Los Angeles finally got one Tuesday night, beating Washington 5-2 after falling behind by two goals. Adrian Kempe scored twice, Artemi Panarin had three points, and Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves. Peter Laviolette can finally put a win next to his name as Kings coach.
The Islanders have won two straight themselves, although they made Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Anaheim a little more interesting than it needed to be. New York scored three times in the first period and then went quiet. Anaheim got within one, but the Islanders held on. Two points. Nobody’s giving them back.
The Kings visit UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET, with coverage on ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+. New York is around -111 on the moneyline, Los Angeles is +111, and the total is 6.5 goals. For more predictions, check out our free NHL picks.
Los Angeles Kings Finally Got A Win
Los Angeles is 1-4-2, which isn’t what anybody had in mind when the season started. Six games without a win will get people talking, especially when you’ve brought in a player like Panarin. The Kings looked headed for another loss when Washington went up 2-0 Tuesday. Then the offense woke up. Five unanswered goals later, Los Angeles had its first victory. Good for them. Now let’s see if they can do it twice.
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The Kings have been having trouble scoring, and their defensive play hasn’t always helped. They give up a few too many chances, then need Kuemper to bail them out. That’s not a great way to win hockey games. The Islanders aren’t going to run up and down the ice with Los Angeles all night. New York would rather get a lead, tighten things up, and make the Kings work. If Los Angeles falls behind early again, I wouldn’t count on another five-goal comeback.
Kempe had two goals against Washington, and Panarin finished with a goal and two assists. Alex Laferriere picked up two helpers, while Erik Gustafsson scored the power-play goal that put the Kings ahead. Kuemper made 30 saves, and that’s a pretty solid performance considering the way the game started. Quinton Byfield left with an upper-body injury, though, and that’s worth watching. Los Angeles needs all the scoring help it can get right now.
New York Islanders Have Been Playing Some Decent Hockey
New York is 5-3-0 after beating Anaheim 3-2. The Islanders came out flying Tuesday, with Ondrej Palat, Victor Eklund, and Simon Holmstrom scoring in the first period. Then they spent the next 40 minutes protecting the lead. It got close, but they won. That’s two straight victories, and Pete DeBoer has to like the way his team has been finding ways to get points.
The Islanders aren’t exactly an offensive powerhouse, but they’ve been playing better in their own end. That matters against a Kings team that’s had trouble scoring. New York can make the neutral zone a pain to get through, and Sorokin is capable of stealing a game when the defense slips up. The Islanders don’t need to score five. They need to keep Los Angeles from getting comfortable, especially Panarin. Give that guy room and he’ll make you regret it.
Sorokin stopped 15 of 17 shots against Anaheim. Not his busiest night, but he did enough. Matthew Schaefer picked up his eighth assist in nine games, setting up Holmstrom’s power-play goal. That’s a pretty good start for a rookie defenseman. Palat and Eklund also scored, giving New York some help beyond its usual scorers. The Islanders have been dealing with injuries, but they’ve still managed to put together a couple of wins.
Los Angeles Kings vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions
New York Islanders Moneyline (-111)
Give me the Islanders. Los Angeles finally won a game, and maybe Panarin is ready to get rolling. That’s the part that makes me nervous. But the Kings have still won once in seven tries, and I’m not ready to put money on them just because they had one good night in Washington. New York has been playing better, Sorokin is in goal, and the Islanders are at home. At -111, that’s enough for me. I think New York gets another close win.
Under 6.5 Goals
I’ll take the under. The Kings scored five Tuesday, but that hasn’t been their normal offense this season. New York has been comfortable playing lower-scoring games, and Sorokin can make life miserable for opposing forwards. Kuemper has been making plenty of saves himself. The Islanders might get three, Los Angeles might get two, and that sounds about right to me. The danger is a couple of early power-play goals, but I don’t see this turning into a shootout. New York 3, Los Angeles 2.
Final Picks: New York Islanders Moneyline (-111) and Under 6.5 Goals (price dependent)
This preview was completed October 21, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting goaltenders may change before puck drop.
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