New York Islanders vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions October 21st 2025

Islanders await frustrated Sharks, who hope enemy ice is the cure

The winless San Jose Sharks open a four-game road trip Tuesday when they visit the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The puck drops at 7:00 PM ET on NBCS.

San Jose has struggled to start the season 0-3-2, scoring only 13 goals through five games. Rookie center Macklin Celebrini leads the team with five points, while head coach Ryan Warsofsky pushes for more consistency. The Sharks’ power play has been a rare bright spot, ranking fourth in the league with five goals.

The Islanders (2-3-0) have rebounded with consecutive wins over the Oilers and Senators. Bo Horvat’s hat trick against Edmonton and Anders Lee’s late winner in Ottawa showed a team finding rhythm again under Patrick Roy. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer has recorded a point in each of his first five NHL games, giving New York a youthful spark.

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Line Movement and Odds

At most sportsbooks, New York opened around -210 on the moneyline and has moved to -222, reflecting steady public backing. San Jose sits at +183. The puck line favors the Islanders -1.5 (+113), while the total is 6.5 goals (Under -119, Over -103).

Sharp bettors have slightly leaned toward the under, anticipating a slower pace from a Sharks team averaging 2.6 goals per game. Track updates anytime on the NHL odds page

Matchup Breakdown

San Jose can hang around if its top six produce early and the power play continues to click. Celebrini and Jeff Skinner (3 goals, 1 assist) drive the offense, but the Sharks haven’t held a lead since October 11. Defensive lapses have hurt, with the team allowing 4.4 goals per game.

The Islanders’ strength lies in balanced scoring and timely goaltending. Ilya Sorokin earned his first win Saturday, stopping a penalty shot to preserve a comeback. New York ranks in the top 10 for goals scored (16) and continues to push strong possession numbers at even strength.

See how the two sides match up on our full NHL previews page

Injuries and Conditions

San Jose Sharks

• Logan Couture (hip) – Out
• Ryan Ellis (back) – Out
• John Klingberg (lower body) – Questionable
• Timothy Liljegren (upper body) – Out
• Shakir Mukhamadullin (upper body) – Out
• Carey Price (knee) – Out

New York Islanders

• Ethan Bear (undisclosed) – Out
• Pierre Engvall (hip) – Out
• Alexander Romanov (upper body) – Questionable
• Semyon Varlamov (lower body) – Out

Get complete updates anytime on the Sharks injury report and Islanders injury report pages.
The game will be played indoors at UBS Arena with no weather concerns.

Best Bets and Prediction

San Jose has failed to cover the puck line in three straight games. The Islanders have gone over the total in four of five but tightened defensively last week. Expect New York’s top six to control pace and the Sorokin advantage to hold.

Prediction: Islanders 4, Sharks 2
Best Bet: Islanders moneyline (-222)
Secondary Lean: Under 6.5 goals (-119)

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