NHL: Lightning vs. Islanders Picks and Odds, December 13, 2025

We have a great matchup today on Long Island. The Tampa Bay Lightning are in town to face the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. These two teams just played a week ago for the second time this season and the Islanders won the game 2-0.

New York is 18-11-3 this season and are third in the Metro Division. They come into this game off a nice win over the Ducks on Thursday night. The Islanders are 6-3-1 in their last ten games and are 9-6-2 at home so far.

Forward Bo Horvat took a weird fall on Thursday and had to leave the game. He is currently day-to-day with a lower body injury, so we’ll see he’ll be available for tonight. Guys like Mat Barzal and Anders Lee will need to continue to lead in his absence.

Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer is having one hell of a year. The number one pick has 8 goals and 14 assists, playing in all 32 games this season. Long Island has a bright future with this guy protecting the blue line.

Goalie Ilya Sorkin is expected in net. He just shut the Lightning out last week and will look to build off that win. Sorokin is 11-8-2 this season with a 2.53 GAA and a .912 save percentage.

Check out the odds for this matchup and other NHL games at the best online sportsbooks.

Tampa will look to get their lick back vs. the Islanders today

Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons tries to get the puck passed Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.

The Lightning are 18-11-2 this season and first in the Atlantic Division. They come into this game on a two-game winning streak after a win over the Devils on Thursday. Tampa is 6-4-0 in their last ten game and 10-4-2 on the road.

Tampa just unloaded on the Devils, scoring eight goals. The team is normally an offensive powerhouse but have taken a step back. They rank eighth in goals scored and nineteenth in shots on goal per game. The Lightning are struggling on the power play, an area where they’ve been known to be very good.

They are playing extremely well on the other side of the puck. Tampa ranks fourth best in goals allowed and eleventh in shots on goal allowed per game. The Lightning, for lack of better terms, kill it on the penalty kill where they are second best in the league. Which is key because they commit the third most penalties per game in the league.

In net, we’re expected to see Jonas Johansson again. He just played a solid game vs. the Islanders, only allowing two goals. Johansson is 7-5-0 this season with a 2.65 GAA and a .905 save percentage. Let’s check out the odds and get into the Lightning vs. Islanders picks.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders Betting Odds and Game Information

Lightning vs. Islanders Betting Odds – December 13

Puck Line

Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (+185)
New York Islanders +1.5 (-250)

Moneyline

Tampa Bay Lightning -130
New York Islanders +110

Totals

Over 5.5 (-125)
Under 5.5 (+105)

Odds courtesy of BetOnline – Get 50% up to $1000 on your first deposit

Lightning vs. Islanders Game Information

Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Date: Saturday December 13, 2025
Puck Drop: 3:30 p.m. EST
TV: MSGSN, The Spot

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders Picks and Prediction

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov tries to move the puck passed Islanders forward Bo Horvat.

Lightning vs. Islanders Picks and Predictions: New York Islanders Moneyline (+110) Get 50% up to $1000 Deposit on BetOnline for this pick

The Islanders have taken down some big names over the past few games. Beating Tampa twice is in there along with wins over the Avalanche, the Knights and the Ducks. They are playing great hockey right now and I like for them to continue at home.

I think the Islanders contend whether Horvat plays or not. They have the tools and skill to still move the puck and get opportunities. Vasi being out on injury gives them another chance to control a game and get the W.

The first play I like is Ilya Sorokin over his saves line. It should come out around 28-29 saves and he faced over 30 shots in each of his last two games vs. Tampa. He’s allowed one goal on 63 shot attempts in the two games.

Give me the rookie Matthew Schaefer to get 3 or more shots on goal. I think this is a good chance for the Islanders to move the puck more without Horvat and I see Schaefer taking a lot of blue line shots to make some plays happen. We should see a line around -125.