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Game Preview: Colorado Avalanche @ New York Islanders
A demanding homestand concludes Thursday as the New York Islanders host the surging Colorado Avalanche at UBS Arena. The Islanders enter 14-10-3 after a tight 2-1 win over Tampa Bay, while Colorado continues to dominate the league, carrying a 17-game point streak and a 19-1-6 record into the matchup. Oddsmakers opened the Avalanche around -199 on the moneyline with a total of 6.5. This contest marks the final meeting of the regular season, following Colorado’s 4-1 win on Nov. 16, when the Avalanche scored twice in the final minute. NHL bettors tracking performance trends across the slate can reference updated markets through the league’s odds hub for a broader comparison.
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Odds and Key Information
Colorado’s moneyline has held firm near -199, with most early action supporting the league’s top team. The Islanders opened +166 and have drawn moderate underdog attention due to strong home splits and their recent success against playoff-level opponents. The total sits at 6.5 with early preference toward the under, matching each club’s current defensive form.
Patrick Roy emphasized his team’s improved structure in Tuesday’s win, praising Ilya Sorokin’s ability to stabilize the crease. Colorado coach Jared Bednar highlighted his team’s commitment to defensive buy-in and transition efficiency after their win over Vancouver.
Colorado Avalanche Outlook
Colorado enters as the NHL’s most complete team, leading the league in goals scored (106) while allowing the fewest (53). Nathan MacKinnon continues his MVP-level output with 46 points in 26 games, dictating pace in all situations. Tuesday’s win over Vancouver showcased the Avalanche’s resilience; after conceding early, they controlled the final 40 minutes despite losing goaltender Scott Wedgewood midgame. MacKenzie Blackwood stepped in and stopped all 10 shots faced.
Gabriel Landeskog contributed two assists against Vancouver, underscoring the Avalanche’s top-tier depth and transition creativity. Colorado’s 10-game winning streak from Nov. 4–26 and its current 14-0-3 run reflect exceptional structural consistency. Their forecheck has forced high turnover rates, while Colorado’s back-end puck movement continues to suppress opposing shot quality.
Injuries remain limited but notable: Gavin Brindley, Jacob MacDonald, and Logan O’Connor are out, while Wedgewood is questionable. Updated availability is accessible via the Avalanche injury-report link on the team hub.
New York Islanders Outlook
The Islanders head into this matchup trying to build on a defensive rebound. Sorokin’s 30-save performance against Tampa Bay ended the Lightning’s seven-game win streak and demonstrated New York’s ability to frustrate elite offenses when structurally sound. The Islanders are 10-6-2 against teams currently in playoff position, one of the best marks among Eastern Conference wild-card contenders.
Bo Horvat leads with 16 goals and 27 points, anchoring a top line that must generate sustained pressure to counter Colorado’s pace. New York ranks top 15 in blocks with 406 and has excelled at home during this seven-game stretch, limiting slot chances and collapsing effectively around Sorokin. Still, the Islanders’ inability to generate consistent scoring remains a concern; they enter having hit the under in nine of their last 10 contests.
The team’s injury situation includes Ethan Bear, Pierre Engvall, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov, and Semyon Varlamov. New York’s updated injury status is available through its team hub.
Key Matchup Table
| Key Factor | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Transition Offense | Colorado |
| Goaltending (Healthy) | Islanders |
| Shot Creation | Colorado |
| Defensive Zone Execution | Islanders |
| Depth Scoring | Colorado |
Betting Trends
Colorado is 10-0 straight up in its last 10 games and has covered nine of its last ten pucklines. The Avalanche also remain a strong under team, hitting unders in 14 of 19 contests. New York, meanwhile, is 1-9 on totals in its last 10 games, showcasing a defense-first formula. As underdogs, the Islanders have a 7-5 puckline mark, largely due to low-event contests at UBS Arena.
Bettors evaluating these trends against broader NHL movement can utilize the league’s odds and results center:
NHL Scores & Odds.
The Lean
Colorado’s offensive ceiling, elite possession metrics, and defensive composure make them deserved road favorites. The Islanders’ path to an upset requires suppressing high-danger looks and leveraging Sorokin’s advantage in goal, especially if Colorado rotates its injured netminders. Model projections lean toward a relatively controlled pace with the Avalanche maintaining scoring pressure.
Projected Score: Colorado 4, New York 2
Best Bet: Colorado Moneyline
Total Lean: Under 6.5
For additional matchup previews and expanded slate analysis, readers can browse the NHL preview section:
NHL Matchup Previews.
Why You Need Expert Picks
Elite matchups like this often hinge on micro-edges—shift matchups, defensive pair rotations, and goaltender fatigue—all of which expert handicappers track. The Handicappers Leaderboard in the NHL picks section highlights top performers who consistently identify sharp-side signals, early line movement, and efficiency discrepancies in teams with contrasting styles.
Bettors looking for deeper analytics, projections, and expert recommendations can access the full NHL picks hub here:
NHL Picks.
Projected Final Score: Colorado 4, New York 2
Best Spread Pick: Colorado ML
Total Lean: Under 6.5
