Capitals vs Islanders Picks and Prediction – 4/6/2025

The Washington Capitals head to UBS Arena on Sunday to face the New York Islanders. Washington enters at 49-18-9 after beating Chicago 5-3 behind two goals from Alex Ovechkin. New York improved to 33-32-10 with a solid 3-1 win over Minnesota, snapping a four-game losing streak. Both teams are still fighting for playoff positioning in the Metro. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Washington has bounced back well after a rough 5-1 loss to Carolina, now having won two of its last three. The offense has been hot, averaging 3.62 goals per game and getting major production from Ovechkin with 41 goals and Dylan Strome leading with 75 points. In net, Logan Thompson is out, so Charlie Lindgren is expected to start with his 2.67 GAA and .898 save percentage. Washington’s power play is strong at 22.8%, and the penalty kill has been solid at 81.3%.

Defensively, the Capitals are allowing just 2.68 goals per game, holding opponents to 27 shots on average. Washington plays a disciplined game but racks up a lot of penalty minutes (697), which could be a factor. The team has also been steady in close games, thanks to its experienced core. Injuries include Aliaksei Protas (day-to-day) and Thompson is still sidelined until at least April 10. 

The Islanders ended a rough patch with a much-needed win over the Wild, but they’ve dropped four of the last five. The offense has been a problem, scoring just 2.72 goals per game. Bo Horvat leads the team with 52 points, while Anders Lee has 27 goals. But the power play has struggled, converting only 12.7% of chances. At home, the Islanders are 18-15-5 and will be looking to build on the Minnesota win.

Defensively, New York gives up 3.04 goals per game and allows nearly 29 shots. Ilya Sorokin has been inconsistent this year with a 2.76 GAA and .905 save percentage. The penalty kill has also been shaky, stopping only 73.3% of opposing power plays. An injury to Anthony Duclair has hurt. 

The Capitals are playing with more consistency and firepower right now, led by Ovechkin’s scoring and Strome’s playmaking. New York is still shaky defensively and has one of the worst special team’s units in the league. Even with Thompson out, Washington’s defense and scoring give them the edge. Final Score Prediction: Washington Capitals win 4-2.