Islanders Face Jets as Trade Deadline Looms Over Squad

New York Islanders vs Winnipeg Jets March 4th 2025

The Jets and Islanders are set to face off at 7:30 ET on ESPN+. The Islanders will host the game at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. The Jets are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 5.5 goals.

Winnipeg vs. New York Key Information

Teams: Jets at Islanders
Where: UBS Arena Elmont
Date: Tuesday, March 4th
Betting Odds WPG -163 | NYI +136 O/U 5.5

The Jets Can Win If…

With a 7-4 win over the Lightning, the Jets improved to 42-15-4 this season. Winnipeg covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

All seven of Winnipeg’s goals came from different players. The Jets fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but Vladislav Namestnikov got them on the board with 7:37 left in the opening period.

Winnipeg’s offense came alive in their 7-4 win over Tampa Bay, with 7 different players finding the net. The Jets took 34 shots on goal and added two empty-netters, including Nikolaj Ehlers’ 9th goal of the season. Vladislav Namestnikov opened the scoring for the Jets in the first period, his 3rd goal of the year.

After a 1-0 first period, the Jets added two goals in the second and four more in the third. Alex Iafallo scored his first goal of the season on a power play, while Cole Perfetti netted his 4th goal with an empty net. Winnipeg also tallied 10 assists in the game.

Defensively, the Jets gave up the first two goals of the game and another late in the 3rd period, but they were able to hold on for a 7-4 win. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves, finishing with a save percentage of 86.7%. The Jets’ defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 31 hits.

Through their last three regular season contests, Winnipeg has a record of 1-2. Their record vs the puck line sits at 1-2 in these matchups, while posting a 0-3 over-under mark.
Through their last ten regular season contests, Winnipeg has a record of 8-2. Across these games, their puck line record was just 5-5, while posting an over-under record of 4-6.

The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders fell to 27-26-7 with a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined 7 goals went over. The Islanders, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover.

After trailing 2-0, Casey Cizikas scored for the Islanders at 15:22 in the second period. The Rangers responded with another goal before Brock Nelson added a second goal for the Islanders, bringing them within one. However, the Rangers scored twice more to seal the win.

In their 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but only managed to find 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 end of the second period.

The Islanders recorded 23 giveaways and were held scoreless in the first and third periods. Pierre Engvall picked up his first assist of the season on Cizikas’ goal, and Simon Holmstrom notched his fourth assist. Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee also contributed, with Palmieri now having 4 assists and Lee with 3 on the year.

Defensively, the Islanders allowed the first goal just 3:44 into the game and gave up two more in the 3rd period, including an empty-netter. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with an 89.7% save percentage. The Islanders’ defense had 12 takeaways and 17 hits.

Through their last three games, the Islanders have a record of 2-1. Their record vs the puck line in these matchups is less impressive at 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 1-2.
Through their last ten regular season contests, New York has a record of 4-6. This includes going 5-5 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Islanders to come out with a win against the Jets while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at +136, I’m placing my bet on the Islanders to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Islanders winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Islanders straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

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.

Islanders Face Jets as Trade Deadline Looms Over Struggling Squad

The New York Islanders are at a crossroads. Their once-promising playoff push has faltered, and as they prepare to face the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, major roster changes could be just days away.

New York’s 7-game winning streak in January reignited postseason hopes, but a 6-loss stretch in their last 9 games has placed them 5 points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Their 4-0 shutout loss to the New York Rangers on Monday night only deepened the urgency for a turnaround.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, enters the matchup looking to snap a rare two-game losing streak after falling 2-1 in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Despite the setback, the Jets still lead the NHL with 88 points and boast a league-best +71 goal differential.

For the Islanders, this game could serve as a turning point—or a final chapter before sweeping changes at the trade deadline.

Islanders at a Crossroads as Trade Deadline Approaches

The February 7 loss to the Jets was a pivotal moment for the Islanders, who have struggled since, failing to build momentum after the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Now, with the March 8 trade deadline looming, speculation is swirling about potential roster shakeups.

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello has historically avoided selling at the deadline, but with the team slipping in the standings, moving key veterans could be the best option.

Names like Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri, Anders Lee, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau have all surfaced as potential trade pieces. Nelson and Lee, in particular, have been with the organization their entire careers, helping lead the Islanders to back-to-back semifinal runs in 2020 and 2021.

While head coach Patrick Roy remains committed to keeping his team focused on the playoff race, he acknowledged the reality of their situation.

“We know where we are in the standings,” Roy said. “But at the same time, this is a group that is resilient and we’re going to continue to work hard. We’re going to continue to push.”

Despite his optimism, the Islanders’ inconsistent offense and defensive lapses have put them in a tough spot. Tuesday’s game could be their last chance to prove they deserve to stay intact before management makes franchise-altering decisions.

Jets Look to Bounce Back After Rare Power Play Struggles

While the Islanders are fighting for their playoff lives, the Winnipeg Jets are comfortably leading the NHL standings, but they enter this game looking to correct a few recent missteps.

Winnipeg’s 11-game winning streak propelled them to the top of the league, but back-to-back 2-1 losses to the Nashville Predators and Philadelphia Flyers have created some minor concerns.

The biggest issue? A suddenly stagnant power play.

The Jets own the league’s top-ranked power play at 30.5 percent, yet they have failed to convert on their last 16 man-advantage opportunities. Against the Predators and Flyers, Winnipeg went 0-for-7 on the power play, missing key chances to turn tight games into wins.

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Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers believes the unit is starting to trend in the right direction, but admitted there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

“I think our power play has gotten better over the last few games—at least (going) in the right direction,” Ehlers said. “But still too many mistakes and too many bad passes.”

Even with the recent struggles, the Jets remain one of the most well-rounded teams in the NHL, featuring elite goaltending, defensive depth, and offensive firepower. A bounce-back performance against a struggling Islanders team could quickly put them back on track.

Who Has the Edge?

The Islanders desperately need a win, not just for their playoff push, but to potentially delay a roster shakeup. Their recent history against the Jets isn’t promising, however, as Winnipeg earned a 4-3 win over them in their last meeting.

Winnipeg’s defensive depth and elite goaltending should give them a significant edge, especially with the Islanders coming off a back-to-back. New York’s lack of scoring consistency and defensive lapses have been major issues all season, and if Winnipeg’s power play wakes up, it could be a long night for the Islanders.

Can the Islanders rally one last time before the trade deadline, or will the Jets send them deeper into uncertainty? Tuesday’s game could be the defining moment of the Islanders’ season.

New York Islanders vs Winnipeg Jets Picks and Predictions March 4th 2025