Oilers vs Islanders Picks and Prediction – 3/14/2025

The Edmonton Oilers (37-23-4) travel to UBS Arena to take on the New York Islanders (29-28-7) on March 14 at 7:30 PM ET. Edmonton is coming off a tough 3-2 loss to Buffalo, but had won three of the previous four, including a 5-4 victory over Dallas. The Islanders have struggled lately, losing four of the last five, including back-to-back 4-1 defeats against Los Angeles and Anaheim. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Edmonton has been one of the league's best offensive teams, averaging 3.23 goals per game, led by Leon Draisaitl’s 97 points and 46 goals. Connor McDavid has 58 assists and remains a playmaking threat every night. The power play has been a major strength, clicking at 26.6%, giving them a big edge over an Islanders team with a struggling penalty kill. 

Defensively, the Oilers allow 2.94 goals per game and have been steady in net with Stuart Skinner posting a 2.88 goals-against average. Calvin Pickard has been reliable when called upon with a 2.76 GAA. Missing key defenseman Mattias Ekholm and forward Evander Kane could hurt, but offensive firepower should still shine.

New York has been inconsistent offensively, averaging just 2.69 goals per game and struggling on the power play at 12.0%. Anders Lee leads the team with 45 points, including 25 goals, but outside of him and Bo Horvat’s 23 assists, scoring depth has been a problem. The Islanders have only managed three goals in the last three losses, showing just how much the offense has struggled. 

Defensively, the Islanders allow 2.98 goals per game, and the penalty kill has been a major liability at just 70.5%. Ilya Sorokin has done his best with a .906 save percentage, but without much offensive support, it's been a tough season. The Islanders will need a strong defensive effort to slow down Edmonton’s high-powered attack, but given recent performances, that will be a difficult task.

Edmonton’s offense has a clear advantage in this matchup, especially on special teams. The Islanders' penalty kill has struggled all season, and that’s a recipe for disaster against a power play as lethal as the Oilers'. New York’s recent scoring woes don’t inspire confidence, and even if Sorokin plays well, it likely won’t be enough. The Oilers should control the pace and capitalize New York’s problems at both ends of the ice. Final Score Prediction: Oilers win 5-2.