Vegas Golden Knights vs New York Islanders Week 8 Betting Preview

Vegas closes a six game homestand Thursday night against the New York Islanders. The Golden Knights have dropped three straight and have one win during this stretch. They sit outside the playoff picture and need a response.
Tomas Hertl said the room is not panicking. The season is long, but the urgency is real.
New York arrives with momentum after wins over the Rangers and Devils. Ilya Sorokin gets the start. He has been sharp, and he has produced against Vegas in the past.
You can track updated NHL prices any time on the NHL odds page

Line Movement and Odds

Vegas opened around -200. Early money trimmed that number closer to -190. The Islanders moved from +165 into the +160 area. The puck line sits at Vegas -1.5 at plus money.
The total opened at 6.5. Under money appeared first, but bettors have started coming back on the over.
Sharps hit Vegas early. Public bettors lean toward the Islanders’ plus price and the over.
For deeper matchup context, review recent form inside the NHL previews section

Matchup Breakdown

Vegas Outlook
The Golden Knights are 7-4-4. They have failed to defend home ice and have not controlled the neutral zone in recent games. Their power play remains a strength. The loss of Mark Stone reshaped the top six and forced role changes.
Vegas allows more quality rush chances without Adin Hill. The team’s defensive reads have sagged late in games.

New York Outlook
The Islanders enter at 8-6-2. Their five-on-five structure tightened over the past week. Sorokin is confident and tracks well.
New York’s offense runs through Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. Their transition game has improved, but they still give up long defensive shifts.

Key Battle
Vegas’ cycle and slot pressure against Sorokin’s positioning. New York’s forecheck can cause issues for a Vegas blue line that has struggled with retrievals.

You can review team metrics anytime through the team pages directory

Injuries and Conditions

Vegas Golden Knights

• Mark Stone, out, wrist
• Adin Hill, out, lower body
• William Karlsson, questionable, undisclosed
• Alex Pietrangelo, out, personal
• Trevor Connelly, out, lower body

Full details on the Vegas injury report

New York Islanders

• Ethan Bear, out, undisclosed
• Pierre Engvall, out, ankle
• Scott Mayfield, questionable, personal
• Maxim Shabanov, out, upper body
• Semyon Varlamov, out, lower body

Full details on the Islanders injury report

Best Bets and Prediction

Vegas has been unreliable on the puck line, but their top end skaters still drive play at home. The Isles have covered well as underdogs.
Projected score: Golden Knights 4, Islanders 3.
Best bet: Vegas moneyline.
Secondary lean: Over 6.

Need betting guidance? Study the Bettors Handbook for angles and strategy.

ScoresAndStats Handicappers and Picks

Compare experts on the Handicapper Leaderboard

See premium options in Service Plays

Grab additional opinions on free NHL picks