Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The New YorkIslanders are clinging to playoff hopes largely thanks to their knack for picking up points even when the performance isn’t convincing — four of their last six games have gone to overtime or beyond. The Vancouver Canucks, on the other hand, are grinding through injury setbacks but still competing hard in the race for post-season hockey.
New York Islanders
The Islanders’ struggles from last year have returned this spring. Once again they’re squandering leads late. They have blown third-period advantages in three straight games, all of which ended 3:3. Their defensive frailties are costing them dearly in the final stretches of games. At home, the Islanders have only managed 13 regulation wins all season — only three teams in the Eastern Conference have fewer.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have shared the spoils in three of their last seven, but unlike the Islanders, they’ve been clawing their way back into games rather than surrendering leads. They equalised late against both the St. Louis Blues (3:4 OT) and the New Jersey Devils (4:3 SO), despite missing top-six forwards Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil and Nils Höglander. The Canucks are no juggernaut on the road — just 10 regulation wins — but they’re tough to beat, losing only 13 times in 34 away fixtures. Only the Minnesota Wild (11) have fewer regulation road defeats in the West.
New York Islanders vs Vancouver Canucks Prediction
Both teams are in desperate need of points and have shown a tendency to play it safe in tight third periods. With the New York Islanders struggling to close out games and the Vancouver Canucks nicking late equalisers, a draw in regulation looks like smart value.
