New York Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Pick & Prediction for 2/26

bangthebook nhl game preview

The New York Islanders visit the Montreal Canadiens in an NHL regular season game. The game takes place at the Bell Centre on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.

The Islanders, coached by Patrick Roy, hold a record of 32-21-5 this season. They rank third in the Eastern Metropolitan Division. On the other side, the Canadiens, led by Martin St. Louis, have a record of 32-17-8 and stand second in the Eastern Atlantic Division.

Islanders vs Canadiens Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: New York Islanders vs. Montreal Canadiens
  • Venue: Bell Centre
  • Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Montreal Canadiens MoneyLine -145, New York Islanders MoneyLine +123

New York Islanders Team Preview

The New York Islanders have shown some solid performances recently. They secured a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils, with Ilya Sorokin making 23 saves. Bo Horvat was a key player, contributing with a goal and an assist.

In their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Islanders won 5-4. Sorokin faced 35 shots, saving 31 of them. Bo Horvat once again stood out, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

Despite their loss to the Washington Capitals, the Islanders had a strong effort. They registered 30 shots on goal but only managed to score once. Mathew Barzal was the lone scorer for the Islanders in that game.

Montreal Canadiens Team Preview

The Montreal Canadiens have had a strong run in their recent games. They secured a big win against the Winnipeg Jets with a score of 5-1. In that game, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher each had a goal and two assists.

In their past five games, the Canadiens have won four. Their only recent loss came against the Minnesota Wild with a score of 4-3. In that game, Phillip Danault contributed an assist and had two shots on goal.

Cole Caufield has been a key player for the Canadiens this season. He has scored 32 goals and has 25 assists in 57 games. Nick Suzuki also stands out with 18 goals and 47 assists, making him a significant contributor to the team’s offense.

BTB Betting Pick

The Montreal Canadiens are favored to win against the New York Islanders with a moneyline of -145. The Islanders have a moneyline of +123. Based on the current odds and the Canadiens’ stronger skater stats, the recommendation is to pick Montreal to win.

The over/under line is set at 6.0 with the over at -115 and the under at -106. The projected score suggests a total of around 6 goals. Given the strong defensive stats, especially the Canadiens’ third-ranked goals against, the recommendation is to take the under.