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NY Islanders (15-10-3) at Tampa Bay (16-9-2)
- When: Dec 6 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL, USA
- TV: The Spot
NY Islanders vs Tampa Bay NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Tampa Bay -185
Spread: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+135)
Total: 6.0
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Breakdown
Tampa Bay comes into this rematch carrying a mix of frustration and motivation after back-to-back close losses, including a controversial overturned tying goal against Pittsburgh that had Jon Cooper ready to rewrite the rulebook. The Lightning controlled large chunks of play in both defeats, but costly breaks and missed opportunities kept them out of the win column.
Despite the recent stumbles, Tampa Bay is still sitting atop the Atlantic Division and remains a dangerous home team, especially with an expected return to the crease for Andrei Vasilevskiy. His numbers continue to be elite, and after missing Thursday’s game with a minor issue, he is lined up to start.
Tampa Bay will need a complete effort to avoid dropping another game to New York. Their 5-5-1 mark against Metro opponents tells the story: when they’re sharp, they look like a Cup contender, but the lapses have been costly. At home, however, they typically punch back.
Tampa Bay Betting Angle: Strong bounce-back spot, especially with their elite goalie back and the offense likely itching to reset after the officiating drama.
New York Islanders Betting Breakdown
New York arrives with momentum after a convincing 6-3 win over Colorado, one of the league’s toughest teams. It was the type of performance that shows just how dangerous the Islanders can be when they execute their structured, physical game.
Under Patrick Roy, the Islanders have found rhythm again, earning points in three of their past four contests. Their top players are producing as well: Bo Horvat continues to pace the club in scoring, while Anders Lee’s latest milestone underscores the veteran consistency this lineup leans on.
New York already solved Tampa Bay earlier in the week by winning a tight 2-1 contest behind stellar goaltending. The Islanders aren’t intimidated by the Lightning’s star power and know they can slow this game down to their preferred style.
New York Betting Angle: Playing with confidence, but now traveling south to face an angry Lightning squad with rest and revenge on its mind.
Final Betting Prediction
Tampa Bay is in a focused rebound spot, back home with Vasilevskiy likely returning, and facing an Islanders team that may not match its desperation level.
New York’s structured style combined with Tampa Bay’s tightened approach after two close losses points toward a controlled, lower-event matchup.
Score Prediction: Lightning 3, Islanders 2
Pick: NY Islanders +1.5 (-160)
Total: Under 6.0 (-112)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
