Prediction: St Louis Blues VS New York Islanders 2025-11-22
New York Islanders vs. St. Louis Blues: A Tale of Fresh Legs and Frozen Hopes
The New York Islanders, fresh off a West Coast road trip that could’ve confused even the most seasoned time-traveler, return home to UBS Arena as favorites against the St. Louis Blues. Let’s break this down with the precision of a Zamboni and the humor of a penguin in a hockey mask.
Parsing the Odds: Why the Isles Are the Shrewd Bet
The Islanders are listed at 1.72 decimal odds (implied probability: ~58.1%) across bookmakers, while the Blues sit at 2.12 (~47.2%). The spread favors the Isles by 1.5 goals, and totals hover around 6.0 goals. These numbers scream “status quo,” and here’s why:
- Home Ice Advantage: The Isles have won 7 of 9 against the Blues at UBS Arena, including a recent 3-1 shutout. Home teams in the NHL win ~55% of games, but the Isles’ home record this season (4-3-1) masks their dominance in high-stakes matchups.
- Blues’ Goaltending Crisis: Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer have been worse than a toddler in a locker room—clueless and leaky. St. Louis allows 3.2 goals per game, and their four-game losing streak includes squandering two-goal leads like a Black Friday shopper at a clearance rack.
- Isles’ Road Trip Mojo: Their 6-1-0 road trip, capped by a 5-0 shutout of Detroit, has them 4 games over .500 on the road for the first time since 2020. They’re averaging 3.2 goals per game, with Max Shabanov and Bo Horvat (14 goals) leading the charge.
The Blues? They’re averaging just 2.5 goals per game and have the NHL’s worst goal differential. Their coach, Jim Montgomery, is politely begging them to “close out games”—a request they’ve ignored like teenagers avoiding chores.
News Digest: Injuries, Fatigue, and a Touch of Absurdity
- Islanders: No injuries! They’ve dodged the injury bug better than a Zamboni avoids black ice. Key players like Bo Horvat (14 goals) and Kyle Palmieri are firing on all cylinders, and Ilya Sorokin’s 29-save shutout in their last game? A masterclass in net.
- Blues: Beyond their goaltending woes, they’re dealing with fatigue. This is their second straight back-to-back, and their players look like they’ve been sleep-deprived for a week. Coach Montgomery’s plea to “extend leads” is as effective as telling a toddler to clean up their Legos.
Fun fact: The Isles’ 88 penalties (4.2/game) make them the NHL’s most entertaining team for fans who love power plays. The Blues, meanwhile, are a penalty-averse bunch, drawing just 2.5 per game—about as exciting as a nap.
The Humorous Spin: Penguins, Sieves, and Time Zones
- The Islanders’ home ice advantage is so strong, they could play this game in a snow globe and still win. Their recent road trip? A time zone odyssey that should’ve aged them 10 years, but instead, they returned looking like they just stepped out of a spa.
- The Blues’ goaltenders are worse than a colander trying to hold water. Binnington and Hofer’s combined .890 save percentage is like asking a sieve to host a pool party.
- St. Louis’ four-game losing streak? It’s become a tragicomedy. They’ve blown two-goal leads twice in a week—imagine baking a cake, then accidentally setting it on fire twice.
Prediction: Isles Roll, Blues Blues
The Isles’ recent form, home dominance, and the Blues’ goaltending fiasco paint a lopsided picture. While the Blues’ coach begs for “clutch” performances, his team looks more “clueless” than “clutch.”
Final Score Prediction: New York Islanders 4, St. Louis Blues 1
Key Bet: Isles -1.5 at ~2.8 odds (per BetRivers).
Why? The Isles’ offense is too sharp, their home record too reliable, and the Blues’ net too porous. Unless Jordan Binnington suddenly develops superhuman reflexes (or a time machine to fix past goals), this one’s a rout.
As Patrick Roy said, “There’s little time to rest.” For the Blues, there’s little time to avoid another loss. The Isles are the real deal—bet on them, and maybe bring a towel for the Blues’ inevitable meltdown. 🏒
Created: Nov. 22, 2025, 6:55 a.m. GMT