New York Islanders: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

NHL Predictions: Feb 26 New York Islanders vs Montreal Canadiens

Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Islanders clash with Canadiens in pivotal conference matchup

Two teams look to solidify their holds on a playoff spot when the New York Islanders visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday in the first game for each following the NHL's pause for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

New York Islanders News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 24

Islanders’ Ondrej Palat drops honest truth on representing Czechia at Olympics

The New York Islanders are back in action on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens after the Olympic break. They sent two players to Milan: Bo Horvat represented Team Canada, and Ondrej Palat was on Team Czechia.

New York Islanders News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 24

Islanders’ dream, nightmare scenario for 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

The New York Islanders are holding down the third spot in the Metropolitan Division coming out of the Olympic break. Few expected them to be here after last year’s disastrous season.

Dallas Stars News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NHL active hat trick leaders' quiz

How many of the active NHL players with at least seven hat tricks in their career can you name in five minutes?

The 'NHL all-time goal leaders' quiz

The 'Most 30-goal seasons in NHL history' quiz

The 'Active 100-point NHL seasons' quiz

New York Islanders News / Athlon Sports / February 24

Islanders Announce Trade After NHL Olympic Freeze

The New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues completed a depth trade during the NHL Olympic break, with the Islanders acquiring forward Matt Luff in exchange for forward Julien Gauthier.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NHL teams who didn't win the Stanley Cup

In the lore of the NHL, it's the Stanley Cup-winning teams that are remembered the most from seasons past. Yet, when looking back on the best of the best

New York Islanders News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 23

1 player Islanders must trade before 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

The New York Islanders will return from the Olympic break in third place in the Metropolitan Division. A surge from the Columbus Blue Jackets has closed the gap, but the Isles still control their destiny.

New York Islanders News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 17

Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer reveals wholesome Olympic break gig

The New York Islanders are in third place in the Metropolitan Division as the Olympics continue. Only Bo Horvat and Ondrej Palat are over in Milan as the rest of the team gets back to practice.

Victor Eklund News / Pro Hockey Rumors / February 9

Victor Eklund Expected To Play In North America Next Season

It has been a solid post-draft season for Islanders prospect Victor Eklund. Making the jump to the SHL level for the first time, he has put up 16 points in 34 games with Djurgardens while averaging 14:38 of playing time.

New York Islanders News / Professor Press Box / February 7

Between the Pipes: Battlin’ Billy Smith—The Heart of the Long Island Dynasty

When people look back on the New York Islanders’ glory years, it’s easy to get caught up in the legendary scorers and the Hall of Fame defense. But anyone who watched those four straight Stanley Cups unfold knows there was always one steady presence holding everything together: Billy Smith.

New York Islanders News / Daily Faceoff / February 7

Islanders have flexibility to be active ahead of NHL Trade Deadline

One of the most intriguing factors surrounding NHL trade deadline season is seeing how surprisingly strong teams conduct themselves and what first-year general managers do to leave their mark on their rosters.

How have the Islanders changed under Mathieu Darche?

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

Bo Horvat News / Field Level Media / February 5

Bo Horvat comes to rescue, Islanders sweep series with Devils

Bo Horvat scored the go-ahead goal with 3:27 left to play to lead the New York Islanders to a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in Newark, N.J.

Mathieu Darche News / Daily Faceoff / February 5

How have the Islanders changed under Mathieu Darche?

With a dynamic first-overall pick rookie in Matthew Schaefer and a Vezina candidate goalie in Ilya Sorokin, the New York Islanders and their success have been one of the big stories of this NHL season.

NHL News / Field Level Media / February 3

Bo Horvat nets OT winner as Islanders outlast Penguins

Bo Horvat scored a breakaway goal 52 seconds into overtime Tuesday night for the New York Islanders, who overcame a trio of deficits to edge the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-4, in Elmont, N.Y.

New York Islanders News / The Lead / February 3

Islanders Recent Trades Provide Depth and Stability

In the 2025-2026 NHL season, the New York Islanders exceeded the expectations of most fans. After selecting number one in the NHL Draft, the Islanders were expected to be in the midst of a retool.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Cy Young winners of the 2000s' quiz

The 'Last 1K-rushing-yard season by team' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals by an American' quiz

The 'Last 40-homer season by MLB team' quiz

Mathieu Darche News / Total Pro Sports / January 29

'If It Makes Sense, I Would' – Islanders GM Mathieu Darche Not Ruling Out Moving First Round Pick In Trade

The New York Islanders have made a couple of key trades before the Olympic freeze, and it seems the team might make a few more before the March 6 trade deadline.

New York Islanders News / Pro Hockey Rumors / January 28

Islanders Open To Moving A First-Round Pick

The Islanders were busy in the first round of the draft last season, adding Matthew Schaefer first overall while making back-to-back selections in the middle of the round as part of the trade return for Noah Dobson. Thanks to the Brock Nelson trade last season, they have an extra pick on the opening night of the draft again this season.

New York Islanders News / Daily Faceoff / January 28

The Islanders shouldn't be done on the trade front

The New York Islanders made the first big “splash” of the trade deadline season, but the team shouldn’t shy away from making more moves before March.

Why the timing of the Carson Soucy trade makes sense for the Islanders

The 25 best late-round NHL Draft picks

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

Mathew Barzal News / NHL Trade Talk / January 25

Mathew Barzal’s Benching and Call Out a Rare Sight in Today’s NHL

The New York Islanders were shut out 5-0 at home by the red-hot Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. While the lopsided score might have shocked some, what was even more surprising—especially for those who didn’t watch and only saw the box score—was that Mathew Barzal logged just 12:45 of ice time.

Isaiah George News / Pro Hockey Rumors / January 23

Islanders Expected To Recall Isaiah George

The New York Islanders are expected to turn towards a top prospect to help them with injuries. Defenseman Isaiah George appears to have been recalled to the NHL just before the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders’ Friday night game per Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News.