New York Islanders vs Florida Panthers Picks and Predictions March 16th 2025

New York Islanders vs Florida Panthers March 16th 2025

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Panthers and Islanders. The game is starting at 7:30 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. Get ready to place your bets! The Panthers are the -1.5 goal favorite in this Eastern conference matchup against Islanders. The over/under for the game is set at 5.5 goals.

Florida vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Panthers at Islanders
• Where: UBS Arena Elmont
• Date: Sunday, March 16th
• Betting Odds FLA -143 | NYI +122 O/U 5.5

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The Panthers Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Stars, the Panthers improved to 41-23-3. Florida covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals fell short of the 6.5 set before the game.

All four of Florida’s goals came from different players. They led 2-0 before Dallas tied it up, but the Panthers pulled away with two more goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.

In their 4-2 win over the Stars, the Panthers had 16 giveaways but still managed to score four times. A.J. Greer netted his first goal of the season, while Sam Reinhart added his 10th on an empty net. Matthew Tkachuk scored his third goal of the year, and Evan Rodrigues got things started with his third goal at 5:15 in the first period.

The Panthers took 25 shots on goal and scored once on the power play. They had 6 assists, with Tomas Nosek picking up his first of the season on Greer’s goal, and Eetu Luostarinen adding his fourth assist on Reinhart’s empty-netter.

Defensively, the Panthers will look to build off a strong third period in their last game, where they shut out the Stars and secured a 4-2 win. Spencer Knight finished with 23 saves and a 92% save percentage, while the defense contributed 8 takeaways and 22 hits. The Panthers also blocked 16 shots from the Stars.

• The Panthers have gone 1-2 over their last three regular season games. Against the spread, Florida went 0-3 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Florida has a record of 7-3. Against the spread, Florida went 4-6 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 1-9.

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The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders fell to 29-29-8 after a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Going into the game as underdogs, the total was set at 6 goals, but the combined 7 goals surpassed that figure.

New York didn’t score until 4:38 into the second period, when Casey Cizikas found the net. Brock Nelson added another goal for the Islanders with just 8 seconds left in the second period, bringing them within one goal. However, the Rangers pulled away with two more goals in the third.

The Islanders took 37 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 5-2 loss to the Rangers. 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.

New York had 23 giveaways and didn’t score in the first or third periods. Pierre Engvall picked up his first assist of the season on Cizikas’s goal, and Simon Holmstrom earned his fourth assist. Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee were credited with assists on Nelson’s goal, bringing their season totals to 4 and 3, respectively.

The Islanders’ defense allowed the first goal just 3:44 into the first period and another at 1:21 into the second. After closing the gap to 3-2, they conceded two more in the third, including an empty-netter. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with an 89.7% save percentage.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Islanders have gone 0-3 straight up. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Islanders have gone 4-6 straight up. This includes going 5-5 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 2-6-2.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Islanders to defeat the Panthers while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at +122, I’m placing a wager 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.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

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Islanders’ Playoff Chances Dim Against Panthers

Islanders Face Uphill Battle

The playoff path has become increasingly difficult for the New York Islanders, who face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers Sunday night in Elmont, N.Y. Following Saturday’s results, New York’s climb to a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference looks steeper than ever.

The Islanders (66 points) are currently six points behind the Rangers, who hold the second wild-card position. After a tough 2-1 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday—where Leon Draisaitl scored the deciding goal—the Islanders’ playoff hopes took another hit.

Left winger Pierre Engvall summed up the frustration:

“You want the extra point, so it definitely feels sour. But we can only get back here next game and get two points.”

Tough Road Ahead for New York

New York faces a daunting schedule ahead, with 14 of their remaining 17 games against teams either currently in playoff positions or within two points of wild-card spots. Every game now has massive implications for the Islanders’ postseason dreams.

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Florida Panthers Eyeing Division Title

Despite recent struggles, the Florida Panthers sit atop the NHL Atlantic Division with 85 points, four points clear of both Tampa Bay and Toronto. However, after a 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, the Panthers have now lost two of their last three games, prompting a call for greater focus from coach Paul Maurice:

“We’d have to play considerably better before I can assess what the other team did to us.”

Florida previously rode a dominant six-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 20-5, including three shutouts. But recent performances suggest there is room for improvement.

Key Players for Panthers

Florida will look to regain momentum through their leading scorers like Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Carter Verhaeghe. Solid defensive efforts and consistency from goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight will also be essential to rebounding quickly from their recent slump.

Islanders’ Keys to the Game

For the Islanders to have any shot at the playoffs, they’ll need major contributions from stars like Bo Horvat, Brock Nelson, and Mathew Barzal. Reliable goaltending from Ilya Sorokin is critical, especially when facing Florida’s high-powered offense.

Head-to-Head Insights

The Panthers bring confidence into Sunday’s matchup, though fatigue may be a factor after playing in Montreal on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Islanders need to capitalize on home ice advantage and Florida’s back-to-back schedule to spark their playoff chase.

Expert Betting Guide and Predictions

Stay informed by reviewing our comprehensive expert betting guide, checking the latest Stanley Cup Odds, and exploring detailed NHL Metropolitan Division odds.