Minnesota Wild vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions February 8th 2025

Minnesota Wild vs New York Islanders February 8th 2025

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Islanders and Wild. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Wild at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have the Wild as the -1.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals.

New York vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Islanders at Wild
• Where: Xcel Energy Center St. Paul
• Date: Saturday, February 8th
• Betting Odds MIN -154 | NYI +130 O/U 5.5

The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders fell to 25-22-7 after a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Entering as underdogs on the puck line, the total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined 7 goals pushed the game over.

New York’s defense struggled, allowing the Rangers to score first at 16:16 in the first period. The Islanders’ offense didn’t get on the board until Casey Cizikas scored at 15:22 in the second period, making it 2-1.

In their 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Casey Cizikas scored his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth, with Nelson’s goal coming just 8 seconds before the second period ended.

The Islanders were held scoreless in the first and third periods. They recorded 23 giveaways and failed to capitalize on any power play opportunities.

The Islanders’ defense will look to bounce back after allowing 5 goals in their previous game against the Rangers. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with a save percentage of 89.7%, but the defense gave up the first two goals of the game and two more in the 3rd period. The Islanders also had 17 hits and 12 takeaways.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Islanders have gone 1-2 straight up. Against the spread, they have a strong mark of 2-1 along with an over-under record of 2-1.
• New York has put together a record of 8-2 in their last ten games (regular season). In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 9-1 and an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Wild Can Win If…

With a 2-1 overtime victory against the Maple Leafs, the Wild improved to 32-19-4 this season. Minnesota was favored on the puck line, but failed to cover. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined 3 goals fell well short of that mark.

Ryan Hartman put the Wild on the board first at 9:41 in the opening period, but William Nylander responded for Toronto with just 52 seconds left in the first. Matt Boldy’s goal at 2:14 in overtime secured the win for Minnesota.

Ryan Hartman opened the scoring for the Wild, netting his third goal of the season at 9:41 in the first period. Matt Boldy added his sixth goal, which came 2:14 into overtime to secure the win. Jared Spurgeon contributed with two assists, bringing his season total to three.

The Wild took 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the second and third periods. They recorded 15 giveaways and were unable to convert on any power play opportunities.

Minnesota’s defense gave up a late first-period goal to Toronto, but they shut the Maple Leafs out the rest of the way, leading to a 2-1 overtime win. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves with a 96.4% save percentage, while the Wild’s defense added 7 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Across Minnesota’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Minnesota has a record of 5-5. This includes going 5-5 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 3-6-1.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Wild to come out with a win against the Islanders while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -154, I’m placing my bet on the Wild to win outright.

When it comes to a puck line pick, our choice is the Wild to secure the win and cover. Expect the Wild to dominate this one with a multi-goal win over the Islanders.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

New York Aims to Bounce Back After Tough Loss in Winnipeg

The New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild will meet in Saint Paul, Minn., on Saturday night, both looking to secure a final victory before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. With each team coming off tight, one-goal decisions, the matchup presents an opportunity to enter the break on a high note.

The Islanders have been one of the NHL’s hottest teams recently, going 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. However, their latest effort, a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, ended in frustration.

New York took a 2-1 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Simon Holmstrom and Marc Gatcomb, but Winnipeg turned the tide in the second, scoring three times. The Islanders made a late push, with Kyle Palmieri scoring in the third, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.

Despite the loss, there were positives to take away.

“We did a lot of good things tonight,” center Bo Horvat said. “I thought we fought back. But at the end of the day, we couldn’t get the job done tonight. I thought in the first we were good. We let our foot off the gas for a minute in the second. We knew they would come, and they did. We fought back in the third period to make it a close game.”

Head coach Patrick Roy echoed that sentiment, noting that defensive lapses in the second period were costly.

“We played really well in the first and third periods. Played very well, took a lead,” Roy said. “I think in the second period, we lost coverage, and that cost us two of the three goals.”

With their strong form leading up to Friday’s loss, the Islanders will look to regain their momentum before heading into the break.

Minnesota Looks to Build on Defensive Effort

While the Islanders are coming off a narrow loss, the Wild enter Saturday’s contest riding the momentum of a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. The win snapped a brief two-game skid for Minnesota and highlighted their commitment to strong defensive play.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson was the backbone of the effort, stopping 37 shots to keep Carolina’s offense in check.

“Whether it’s lifting sticks, shot blocking and not allowing second efforts,” Wild coach John Hynes said of his team’s performance. “I thought we also did a good job. If the puck was in those areas or below the goal line, we had five players tight. And then when they did get some looks, because they’re going to, I thought ‘Gus’ (Gustavsson) really competed tonight in scrums and battles, and it was going to be one where your goaltender has to compete in traffic tonight, and he did a nice job.”

Yakov Trenin and Vinnie Hinostroza provided the offensive support, with Hinostroza making an immediate impact in his first game with the team after being claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators.

“Yeah, (I) felt really good,” Hinostroza said Thursday. “Obviously, lot of emotions. Entering a new locker room sometimes can be hard to do, but this group couldn’t have made it easier for me today. So I’m just happy to be a part of this.”

With a solid defensive performance in their last game and renewed confidence, the Wild will aim to keep things rolling against an Islanders team that has been tough to beat in recent weeks.

Minnesota Without Suspended Ryan Hartman

The Wild will once again be without forward Ryan Hartman, who is serving the third game of a 10-game suspension for slamming Ottawa’s Tim Stützle’s head into the ice with his forearm last Saturday.

Hartman, who has seven goals and 10 assists in 48 games, is appealing the suspension through the NHL Players Association, but for now, Minnesota will have to adjust without his presence in the lineup.

Uncover Data-Driven Forecasts and Strategies That Could Help You Profit from Stanley Cup Wagering

An Important Battle Before the Break

Both teams are eager to head into the break with a win, but each comes into the matchup with different recent trends. The Islanders will look to bounce back after their loss to Winnipeg, while the Wild hope to build on their hard-fought win over Carolina.

With both teams vying for points in a competitive playoff race, this showdown in Saint Paul could be the perfect send-off before the league-wide pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off.