Islanders Gameday: Post-Olympic sprint begins in Montreal
The New York islanders re-enter NHL action in a compressed post-Olympic stretch tonight, visiting Montreal for the NYI@MTL matchup that doubles as the Canadiens’ Soirée Québécoise. The game matters because both clubs are jockeying for playoff position with a limited number of regular-season games remaining: Montreal carries momentum from a five-game (4-0-1) point streak, while the islanders arrive on a two-game win streak and a tight divisional standing.
Islanders post-break position
Entering the restart, the islanders sit third in the Metropolitan Division and are five points clear of the playoff cut line. League rankings cited for the club this season place the team third in goals against per game, sixth in faceoff percentage and eighth on the penalty kill for 2025-26, characterizing their results as built on defense and dependable goaltending. Coverage notes also describe the Islanders facing a compressed schedule with 24 games to go after the break, increasing the premium on consistent structure and short-term results.
Soirée Québécoise and game-night features
Montreal’s return from the Olympic pause will be styled as Soirée Québécoise, with Quebec culture and cuisine highlighted at the Bell Centre. Special programming includes a new Canadiens x Gilles Villeneuve merch collection available at Tricolore Sports, a playlist curated by the Francos de Montréal programming team, and an arena quiz tied to a prize pack that includes an item from the Gilles Villeneuve line. A special edition 50/50 raffle will benefit the Jewish General Hospital Foundation; Quebec fans aged 18 and over can buy tickets at the arena or through the foundation’s online raffle portal.
Roster matchups and players to watch
Montreal’s roster headlines include defenseman Noah Dobson, who was drafted fifth overall by New York in 2018 and spent his first six NHL seasons on Long Island; this game marks his first matchup against his former club since being acquired by Montreal last summer. Montreal also will showcase rookie first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer, listed at 18 years old with 39 points in 58 games in his rookie campaign. Additional Canadiens names called out for the restart are Alex Newhook, who returns from a long-term injury; Ivan Demidov, noted as a Calder Trophy challenger who could test Schaefer; and Emil Heineman, who returns to Montreal after being sent to New York in the trade that brought Dobson to Montreal.
NHL predictions and betting notes
Pre-game predictions circulating ahead of the matchup list an Islanders money-line underdog position and a game total set at six goals with the market leaning to the Over in one model. Historical matchup notes show a pattern in recent meetings: the home team won each of the last nine meetings between these clubs, six of the last eight meetings had six or more combined goals, and the previous four meetings went past regulation. Individual player-versus-goalie splits highlighted in preview material include Bo Horvat’s past scoring success versus Montreal’s goaltending and Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki’s goal totals against New York netminding in prior matchups. Those trends will factor for bettors and analysts debating game totals and anytime-goal prop plays.
Key takeaways: both teams restart amid positive recent form, Montreal will stage a cultural-themed home night tied to charitable fundraising, and the matchup carries notable personal storylines — including Dobson facing the club that drafted him and Montreal’s rookie leader — that could influence short-term playoff races as the schedule tightens.
