Game Details
- Matchup: New York Islanders (4-3-1) at Boston Bruins (4-7-0)
- Date: Tuesday, October 28
- Time: 7:15 PM EST
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- TV: NESN, MSG Sportsnet
- New York Islanders: -144
- Boston Bruins: +120
Game Preview
The New York Islanders travel to Boston to take on a struggling Bruins team in an Eastern Conference showdown. The Islanders enter the contest as road favorites, a telling sign given the historical difficulty of winning at TD Garden. New York is off to a solid, if unspectacular, 4-3-1 start, playing their typical brand of structured, defense-first hockey.
The Boston Bruins, on the other hand, have stumbled out of the gate with a 4-7-0 record. Playing as home underdogs reflects their early-season struggles and a key injury on their blue line. According to recent reports, defenseman Hampus Lindholm was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, a significant loss for a team trying to find its defensive footing. The Bruins will need to find a new level of intensity at home to overcome this adversity and pull off the upset.
The Islanders are not without their own injury concerns, with forward Pierre Engvall on long-term injured reserve. However, the Bruins’ loss of a top-pairing defenseman in Lindholm appears to be the more impactful absence heading into this matchup.
Prediction
The betting line tells a big part of this story. The Islanders being -144 favorites on the road in Boston indicates that oddsmakers are low on the Bruins’ current form. Boston’s sub-.500 record and the absence of Hampus Lindholm are major factors weighing against them.
While the Bruins are always a tough opponent on home ice and offer tempting +120 value, their early-season performance has not inspired confidence. The Islanders’ disciplined system is built to win tight, low-scoring games, which is exactly the type of contest they will look to create on the road. Given the Bruins’ struggles and key injury on defense, the safer and more logical pick is to back the road favorite.
The Pick: New York Islanders Moneyline (-144)
Sources:
New York Islanders Injury Report and Status 2025-26 – CBS Sports
New York Islanders Injury Status – ESPN
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