The New York Islanders, entering their March 22, 2025, home game against the Calgary Flames, have demonstrated resilience and competitiveness throughout the season, reflected in their 31-28-8 record. Under the guidance of head coach Lane Lambert, the Islanders have embraced a system that emphasizes defensive responsibility and structured play, hallmarks of their identity in recent years. Offensively, the team has averaged 2.51 goals per game, with key contributions from forwards Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson. Barzal’s playmaking abilities and vision have been instrumental in generating scoring opportunities, while Nelson’s consistent goal-scoring touch has provided the necessary offensive punch. However, the team’s power play has struggled, operating at a 12.10% efficiency, indicating a need for improved execution and creativity with the man advantage. Defensively, the Islanders have allowed an average of 3.05 goals against per game, a statistic that underscores the challenges they’ve faced in maintaining their traditionally stout defensive posture. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin has been a cornerstone for the team, delivering stellar performances and often keeping the Islanders competitive in tightly contested games. His athleticism and composure under pressure have been vital assets, especially during stretches where defensive lapses have occurred. The defensive corps, led by veterans like Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, has been tasked with shutting down opposing top lines while contributing offensively when opportunities arise. Their ability to block shots and engage physically has been crucial in limiting high-danger scoring chances. The Islanders’ recent form has been encouraging, with the team covering the spread in seven of their last ten games, reflecting a competitive edge and an ability to rise to the occasion in critical matchups. This trend is indicative of a team that, despite offensive struggles, finds ways to stay within reach or secure victories, a testament to their resilience and adherence to their structured game plan. At UBS Arena, the Islanders have leveraged their home-ice advantage effectively, playing with confidence and tempo, often feeding off the energy of the crowd and dictating the pace early through aggressive forechecking and smart puck management.

The coaching staff has emphasized a tight neutral zone presence and quick counterattacks, allowing Barzal and company to generate offense off turnovers, an area where the Flames have shown vulnerability throughout the season. Special teams will be a key focus heading into this matchup; while the penalty kill has hovered around league average, its success largely depends on maintaining disciplined positioning and clearing rebounds efficiently—elements that the Islanders have improved on recently. Despite their challenges on the power play, there’s potential for this unit to break out, especially if they can establish zone time and allow players like Noah Dobson to quarterback from the blue line, setting up quality looks for snipers like Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee. Lee, in particular, has been a consistent net-front presence and remains one of the team’s emotional leaders, offering grit, experience, and clutch scoring when needed most. The Islanders’ bottom six, featuring names like Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck, continues to play an important role in dictating the physical tone of games, delivering hits, winning board battles, and providing energy shifts that wear down opposing defenses. With the playoff race tightening and every point becoming critical, this matchup against Calgary represents more than just a home game—it’s an opportunity to assert their identity and pick up two vital points against a Western Conference opponent that has struggled with consistency. Expect Sorokin to be tested frequently, particularly by Calgary’s top forwards on the rush and during power play sequences, but if the Islanders can limit slot-area chances and transition quickly off of defensive stops, they will be in an excellent position to control the game’s tempo. Coach Lambert will likely focus on playing to the team’s strengths: disciplined positioning, physical play, and capitalizing on turnovers, while also pushing for cleaner breakouts and better puck support in the offensive zone to extend shifts and exhaust Calgary’s defense. With recent betting trends favoring the Islanders—seven covers in the last ten games—and their strong home performance record, they are expected to enter the contest as slight favorites, particularly given the Flames’ uneven road form and tendency to falter against structured defensive teams. While nothing is guaranteed in hockey, the Islanders’ blend of elite goaltending, physicality, veteran leadership, and a sense of urgency as the playoff picture sharpens gives them a decisive edge in this matchup, and a complete, disciplined effort should position them to come away with a valuable win that could help tip the scale in a tightly contested Eastern Conference wildcard race.