The New York Islanders hit the ice against the Calgary Flames on Saturday afternoon. With the Islanders sitting near the top of the Metropolitan Division and Calgary battling to climb the Pacific standings, this contest at Scotiabank Saddledome should be an interesting one. Before it starts, you can continue reading to find my analysis of this matchup, as well as my Islanders vs Flames prediction in the betting markets.
Our Islanders vs Flames Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 2/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New York Islanders vs Calgary Flames
- Date & Time: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
- Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Islanders arrive in Calgary riding a rollercoaster of results. New York is 5-5-0 over its last 10 contests overall, but recent performances have shown grit and a sharpened defensive focus. They blanked the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 in their latest outing, thanks in large part to a 35-save performance by Ilya Sorokin. That win marked the club’s third victory of its current road trip, and it was secured despite offensive struggles throughout that game.
Calgary is also 5-5-0 over its last 10 games, including a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in its last game on the road. The Flames have a sub-.500 record overall and are in seventh place in the eight-team Pacific Division. Still, oddsmakers are giving Calgary a shot here in what is basically a pick ’em game.
Goaltending
The two netminders could play a pivotal role in this contest. For the Islanders, Ilya Sorokin has been stellar this season, posting a .915 save percentage and leading the league with five shutouts. His impact was front and center against Edmonton, where he stymied one of the NHL’s most potent offenses. Calgary’s likely starter is Devin Cooley, who has posted respectable numbers himself, including a 22-save performance against Chicago.
Key skaters
Offensively, New York leans on Mathew Barzal for playmaking, while Simon Holmstrom has infused energy and production in recent outings. Anthony Duclair’s resurgence has added a goal-scoring spark to their top line as well. Calgary’s top contributors include Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary, who provided key goals and assists in recent action. Calgary’s scoring depth remains a question mark, and that could be trouble against the tight defensive play of the Islanders.
Betting Trends & H2H
- This is the first of two games that the Islanders and Flames will play against each other during the regular season.
- The Islanders are 27-20 on the puckline so far this year.
- The Flames are also 27-20 in the puckline market going into this game.
Islanders vs Flames Model Projection
Final Thoughts
