Islanders vs Capitals Prediction & Odds - 4/6/2025

The red-hot Washington Capitals arrive at UBS Arena looking to shake off their recent 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes, bringing the NHL's top-scoring offense (270 goals) against an Islanders team that's struggled with special teams all season.

With Charlie Lindgren likely guarding the net for the visiting squad and Ilya Sorokin expected between the pipes for the home team, goaltending could make all the difference in a matchup where the Capitals have dominated offensively while the Islanders have struggled to find consistency.

The New York Islanders face an uphill battle against a Washington Capitals team that's been lighting up scoreboards across the league, but UBS Arena might just provide the spark needed for an upset.

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New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals preview

The struggling Islanders (32-32-10) face a daunting challenge this Sunday as they host the league-leading Capitals (48-18-9) at UBS Arena in what could be described as a David vs. Goliath matchup in the Eastern Conference.

Washington enters the contest with a lethal offense that's tallied 270 goals (tops in the NHL) this season, though they'll be looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic 5-1 drubbing by the Hurricanes.

The Isles, fresh off a disappointing 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay, have been absolutely dreadful on the power play—converting at a league-worst 12.37% rate with just 23 goals on 186 chances this season.

Keep an eye on the goaltending battle between Ilya Sorokin, who despite the Islanders' mediocre record boasts a career .916 save percentage, and Washington's Charlie Lindgren who's compiled a solid .563 quality start percentage throughout his NHL tenure.

Special teams could determine this one, with the Capitals' power play clicking at an impressive 22.17% while New York's penalty kill sits at a concerning 73.01%.

Sunday's showdown feels like a potential mismatch on paper, but UBS Arena could provide the spark needed for the home team to pull off what would be a significant upset against the Stanley Cup contenders.

I'd bet my lucky puck that Caps coach will emphasize discipline after his team racked up 74 penalty minutes in their last outing—something that could give the Islanders a fighting chance if they can somehow fix their power play woes.

Given Washington's offensive firepower and New York's defensive struggles, this one might get ugly for the home crowd unless Sorokin stands on his head between the pipes.