Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in key head-to-head matchups.

The Islanders trail the Ducks in the season series 0-1-0 after a 3-1 loss at UBS Arena on Oct. 29. Mathew Barzal scored the lone goal for the Islanders with a power play tally, but it wasn’t enough to combat Anaheim’s offense with Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry potting power play goals of their own and Frank Vatrano burying the empty-net goal.

By trading only Brock Nelson this week, general manager Lou Lamoriello committed to the challenge of trying to retool the New York Islanders while keeping them in contention.

BOTTOM LINE: The Anaheim Ducks face the New York Islanders in a non-conference matchup. Anaheim has a 27-28-7 record overall and a 14-14-2 record in home games. The Ducks have allowed 190 goals while scoring 162 for a -28 scoring differential.

The Ducks, who trail Vancouver by eight points in the wild-card standings, look to shake a tough loss to the Blues

The veteran defenseman in one day was traded from the Colorado Avalanche to the New York Islanders, who then flipped him to the Ducks for future considerations

The New York Islanders have already made a big move on Thursday, as they have sent Brock Nelson along with William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a pair of first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and a conditional pick in the third round of the 2028 NHL draft.

The New York Islanders wake up this morning in California sitting four points outside the final playoff spot. The team currently occupying the final wild card is the Ottawa Senators, with 67 points and aggressively bought at this past trade deadline.

The Islanders will be a bit deeper between the pipes as they continue to make an improbable push for a playoff spot. The team has activated netminder Marcus Högberg from injured reserve ahead of tonight’s game against the Ducks,

The Ducks have acquired defenseman Oliver Kylington from the New York Islanders for future considerations. Kylington, 27 (5/19/97), has appeared in 214 career NHL games with Colorado (2024-25) and Calgary (2015-24),

The Colorado Avalanche made a big splash on the eve of the NHL trade deadline by getting center Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Brayden Schenn scored twice to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. With the Blues leading 4-3, Schenn scored his second of the game on a wrist shot with 1:47 left in the third period with an assisted from Justin Faulk.