New York Islanders vs New York Rangers Picks and Predictions April 10th 2025

New York Islanders vs New York Rangers April 10th 2025

Betting on today’s Rangers and Islanders game? Catch the action at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY, as the Islanders hosts this showdown at 7:30 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 5.5 goals and the Islanders are the -1.5 favorite to win at home vs. the Rangers.

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New York vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Islanders
• Where: UBS Arena Elmont
• Date: Thursday, April 10th
• Betting Odds NYI -117 | NYR -104 O/U 5.5

The Rangers Can Win If…

The Rangers moved above .500 with a 5-2 win over the Islanders, bringing their record to 36-35-7. As -1.5 goal favorites, they covered the puck line, and the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.

Four different players scored for the Rangers, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. Their first goal came at 16:16 in the first period, and they held the Islanders scoreless in the third to secure the win.

Artemi Panarin led the way for the Rangers, scoring twice in their 5-2 win over the Islanders. Panarin’s first goal came on a power play, marking his 8th of the season, while his second was an empty-netter, bringing his total to 9. Adam Edstrom also found the net, scoring his first goal of the season.

Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, which came shorthanded. Vincent Trocheck added his 4th goal of the season. Mika Zibanejad contributed with three assists, bringing his total to 8 for the year. The Rangers fired 40 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways.

Defensively, the Rangers will look to build on their previous performance, where they allowed just 2 goals to the Islanders. Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves, posting a 94.6% save percentage. The Rangers’ defense also contributed 10 takeaways, 19 hits, and 18 blocks.

• New York has put together a record of 0-3 in their last three games (regular season). In these contests, the team went just 0-3 against the spread, while going 2-1 on the over-under.
• New York has put together a record of 3-7 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the puck line was just 2-8, in addition to an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders fell to 34-33-11 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 teams combined for 7.

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

In their recent 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders took 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 just 8 seconds left in 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, and Simon Holmstrom added his fourth on Cizikas’ goal.

Defensively, the Islanders gave up the first goal just 3:44 into the first period and allowed two more in the third, including an empty-netter at 16:37. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with a save percentage of 89.7%. The Islanders’ defense recorded 12 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Spanning across their last three games, New York have gone 2-1. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Islanders have gone 3-7 straight up. Against the spread, New York went 2-8 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Islanders to secure a victory over the Rangers at home. With the moneyline currently set at -117, I’m locking in my bet on the Islanders straight-up.

For a puck line pick, we are going with the Islanders to win and cover. Look for the Islanders to win this one by multiple goals over the Rangers.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 5.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Best Expert Hockey Handicappers

50 Years Later: The Rivalry Returns Without the Stakes

Fifty years ago, the New York Islanders etched their name into NHL history by defeating the New York Rangers in a dramatic three-game playoff series — their first series win ever. It was a win that ignited one of hockey’s most intense rivalries.

Fast forward to today, and the scene couldn’t be more different. On Thursday night, the Rangers and Islanders will meet in Elmont, NY for their final matchup of the 2024-25 season — but with playoff hopes all but extinguished, the only thing on the line is pride.

A Rivalry Reunited Without Relevance

While this matchup falls on the golden anniversary of their 1975 clash, there’s a heavy dose of irony in how little it matters in the standings:

• Rangers: 36-35-7, 79 points
• Islanders: 34-32-11, 79 points
• Both trail the Montreal Canadiens by eight points for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot.

The Rangers will be officially eliminated with any loss. The Islanders, with a game in hand, are mathematically alive — but only just.

Rangers Collapse Amid Late-Season Skid

Just a few weeks ago, the Rangers seemed on track for a potential playoff run. A dominant 4-0 shutout of the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 15 had them leading Montreal in the standings.

Since then, however, the Rangers have gone 3-7-1, losing their last three games in demoralizing fashion. The most recent lowlight came Wednesday night in an 8-5 loss to the last-place Philadelphia Flyers — a game in which they allowed six third-period goals, more than Philly scored in all but six of their prior 77 games.

“We haven’t really helped ourselves,” said Rangers center Mika Zibanejad. “It felt like it was still in our hands a couple of weeks ago.”

Islanders Repeatedly Cough Up Late Leads

The Islanders’ season has been defined by one painful theme: late-game collapses.

Tuesday’s 7-6 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators was their third blown multi-goal third-period lead this season. Despite scoring two goals in under a minute to take a 6-4 lead late, penalties and poor defensive play let the game slip away once again.

Bo Horvat, who was penalized late in the game, summed it up best:
“We were up two with three minutes left. Got to find a way to get that done.”

The stats back up the frustration:

• Outscored 94-83 after the second period
• Surrendered 10 goals in the final 3 minutes of regulation that either tied or lost the game

Season Comparison Snapshot

Then vs. Now: A Tale of Two Eras

Then (1975):

• Islanders stunned the Rangers in a three-game playoff upset.
• The rivalry became a defining staple of New York sports.

Now (2025):

• Both teams sit outside the playoff picture.
• Mutual underperformance has turned a once-intense showdown into an afterthought.

The energy of the rivalry hasn’t completely died, but it’s no longer charged with playoff implications — only echoes of what once was.

What the Players Are Saying

• Bo Horvat (Islanders): “We weren’t crisp all night… we need to find a way to get those wins.”
• Mika Zibanejad (Rangers): “It was in our hands still… and we let it slip.”

Both statements reflect frustration and accountability — but they also emphasize the psychological burden of near-misses and season-long regression.

What This Means for the Future

While elimination is almost certain for both franchises, their paths forward diverge in subtle ways:

• The Islanders retain some core pieces and a game in hand, but will need to address their late-game lapses.
• The Rangers, after two straight playoff runs, may be forced into retooling and reassessing both leadership and roster depth.

Conclusion: A Rivalry in Reflection, Not Relevance

Fifty years after launching one of hockey’s greatest rivalries, the Rangers and Islanders now face a season finale more symbolic than significant. For fans, it’s a night of nostalgia — and perhaps a reminder that even the fiercest foes can fade when both fall short.