Islanders vs Canadiens Prediction 3/21/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Islanders vs Canadiens Prediction for this NHL game on Saturday, March 21^st. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Montreal Canadiens Preview

The Canadiens have 84 points this season with a 37-21-10 record, and are 39-29 ATS and 39-27 in over/under. They have a 19-13-2 home record and a 18-8-8 road record and are sitting 4th in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 3-1 road loss to the Red Wings, and their previous three games were a 3-2 home overtime win over the Bruins, a 4-3 home loss to the Ducks, and a 4-2 home loss to the Sharks.

Offensively, the Canadiens are averaging 3.46 goals per game and are scoring 24.4% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.24 goals per game and are killing 77.1% of their opponent’s power plays.

Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens with 81 points and 24 goals, while Lane Hutson leads the team in assists with 58. Jakub Dobes is the starting goalie for the Canadiens, and he has a 22-8-4 record, with 2.91 GAA and .893 SV%. Samuel Montembeault is the backup goalie and he has a 10-8-4 record, with 3.43 GAA and .872 SV%.

New York Islanders Preview

The Islanders have 83 points this season with a 39-25-5 record, and are 33-36 ATS and 30-37 in over/under. They have a 18-11-2 home record and a 21-14-3 road record and are sitting 3rd in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 3-2 road loss to the Senators, and their previous three games were a 3-1 road win over the Maple Leafs, a 3-2 home win over the Flames, and a 3-2 home loss to the Kings.

Offensively, the Islanders are averaging 2.87 goals per game and are scoring 16.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.75 goals per game and are killing 82.3% of their opponent’s power plays.

Mathew Barzal leads the Islanders with 63 points and 45 assists, while Bo Horvat leads the team in goals with 28. Ilya Sorokin is the starting goalie for the Islanders, and he has a 25-16-2 record, with 2.50 GAA and .913 SV%. David Rittich is the backup goalie and he has a 14-9-3 record, with 2.66 GAA and .899 SV%.

New York Islanders @ Montreal Canadiens Betting Trends: March 21, 2026

Why the Montreal Canadiens will win

• The home team has won nine of the last 10 games between the Islanders and Canadiens.
• The Islanders have lost three of their last four night games at Bell Centre.
• The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last six Saturday games against the Islanders.
• The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five games at Bell Centre.
• The Canadiens have won the second period in each of their last six games when trailing after the first period.

Why the New York Islanders will win

• The underdogs have won each of the Islanders’ last five games at Bell Centre.
• The Canadiens have lost each of their last five games as favorites following a road loss.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the last seven games between the Islanders and Canadiens.
• The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as favorites following a road loss.
• The Canadiens have lost the third period in each of their last six home games against Eastern Conference opponents when trailing after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Canadiens’ last six games as favorites following a road loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Islanders’ last eight road games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Islanders’ last 14 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 14 of the Canadiens’ last 16 home games against Eastern Conference opponents.

Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts

• Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in seven of the Canadiens’ last eight games as home favorites.
• Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in six of the Canadiens’ last seven games against the Islanders.
• Cole Caufield ranks T1st in the league for Game Winning Goals (9) this season.

New York Islanders Player Prop Facts

• Matthew Schaefer has scored at least one goal in four of the Islanders’ last five games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Brayden Schenn has recorded an assist in each of his last four road appearances against the Canadiens.
• Brayden Schenn has scored two goals against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Montreal Canadiens rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.46).
• The Montreal Canadiens rank 6th in the league in power play percentage this season (24.35%).
• The New York Islanders rank 30th in the league in power play percentage this season (16.10%).
• The New York Islanders rank 4th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.75).

Islanders vs Canadiens Prediction

The Islanders won their previous meeting against the Canadiens this season by 4-3 on the road and are 4-1 in their last 5 meetings.

In this Islanders vs Canadiens Prediction, the Canadiens are coming as -140 home favorites. Both teams are coming off defeats and while the Islanders have been playing better hockey lately, I don’t trust them on the road. The Canadiens are 1-3 in their last 4 games and I don’t trust them either, so I will not pick a side. Both teams are 9-1 to the under in their last 10 games combined, as neither team has scored more than three goals in each of their last 10 games combined. Take the under 6 goals.