Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 8 2026
The Chicago Blackhawks visit the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. Chicago enters at 1-3 after earning its first victory Tuesday night, while New York is 1-2 following a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. The Islanders enter as the home favorite, with the total sitting around 5.5 goals. Be sure to check out our free NHL picks for more NHL predictions throughout the season.
Chicago Finally Gets Rewarded
Chicago’s first three games produced three losses, including an ugly 6-0 defeat against Utah, but Tuesday finally gave the Blackhawks something positive. They rallied from an early deficit and beat St. Louis 4-2 despite being outshot 28-21.
The larger picture remains concerning. Chicago has been outscored 17-9 through four games and has lost all three of its road games. The Blackhawks have also allowed at least four goals in every game except Tuesday’s victory.
There are also significant injury concerns within Chicago’s lineup. That matters even more on the road and with only one day between games. Tuesday’s victory was encouraging, but it isn’t enough for me to assume Chicago’s problems have suddenly disappeared.
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New York Looks for a Response at Home
The Islanders have alternated between three very different performances. They lost 2-1 at Toronto, crushed New Jersey 6-0 and then fell 5-2 against the Rangers on Tuesday.
That inconsistency makes New York difficult to lay a large number with, but the Islanders have at least demonstrated a much higher defensive ceiling than Chicago. Their shutout against New Jersey showed what this team can look like when everything is working.
The Islanders are also catching Chicago at a useful time. The Blackhawks are playing their second game in three nights and have struggled badly away from home. New York doesn’t need to dominate offensively to control this matchup.
Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions
Pick: New York Islanders Moneyline
I’m backing the Islanders at home. Chicago finally won Tuesday, but the Blackhawks are still 1-3 and have been outscored by eight goals. New York has been inconsistent itself, yet the Islanders already have a 6-0 victory on their résumé and should own the better defensive profile in this matchup. With Chicago also dealing with notable absences, New York is the side I trust more.
Pick: Over 5.5 Goals
I’m going Over 5.5 despite the Islanders’ ability to play low-scoring hockey. Three of Chicago’s four games have already gone Over, and the Blackhawks have surrendered 17 goals. New York’s last two games produced six and seven combined goals, including five allowed Tuesday. Neither team has been consistent enough defensively for me to trust the Under at such a low number.
Final Picks: New York Islanders Moneyline and Over 5.5 Goals
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Vancouver Canucks vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 8 2026
The Vancouver Canucks visit the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00...
