Islanders vs Predators Picks and Prediction – 4/9/2025

The New York Islanders head to Nashville to face the struggling Predators in a Monday night matchup at Bridgestone Arena. The Islanders are 34-32-10 after winning back-to-back games, including a strong 4-1 home victory over the Capitals. The Predators fell again in a tight 2-1 loss to Montreal and now sit at 27-42-8, dropping five straight. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

New York is clinging to playoff hopes and just handled business with wins over Minnesota and Washington, powered by a two-goal game from Karson Kuhlman. The Isles have shown toughness of late and Bo Horvat continues to lead the charge with 53 points. Ilya Sorokin is expected to get the nod in net after picking up his 29th win Saturday, while Matias Maccelli and Anders Lee continue to be key offensive pieces.

Defensively, New York has been better recently but still gives up 3.01 goals per game. Sorokin has carried the load with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. The penalty kill sits at just 73.1%, and the power play hasn't clicked either, converting on 12.6% of chances. Anthony Duclair remains out, but this group is healthier than earlier in the season and showing signs of improvement when it matters most.

Nashville's skid continues after another tight loss, this time at home to Montreal. The offense has dried up, with just one goal in each of the last two games and three or fewer in the past five. Filip Forsberg remains the lone bright spot, posting 70 points with 29 goals and 41 assists. With Colton Sissons out and Jonathan Marchessault questionable, the offensive burden only grows.

The Predators’ defense has crumbled over the past few weeks, allowing 3.27 goals per game on the season. Juuse Saros has started 54 games and carries a 2.97 GAA with a .895 save percentage. The penalty kill is slightly stronger than New York’s at 81.0%, and the power play sits at 20.5%. Nashville has taken too many penalties this season, racking up 746 PIM. The defense just hasn't held up, especially against teams pushing for the postseason.

The Islanders are in far better form, scoring seven goals on Nashville in the last meeting and now coming off back-to-back solid wins. The Predators can’t generate consistent offense and are hemorrhaging goals. With Sorokin playing solid and Forsberg getting little help, New York should keep the momentum going. Final Score Prediction: New York Islanders win 4-2.