Archive note: Technical commentary has been removed. This remains historical pregame coverage; original selections have been retained where stated.
Los Angeles Kings vs New York Islanders Prediction - March 13, 2026
Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's prediction, as they incorporate last-minute goalie confirmations, injury updates, and live odds closer to game time. Always check the picks page for the most up-to-date selections.
The Los Angeles Kings travel to UBS Arena to face the New York Islanders in a matchup that pits two teams operating under very different trajectories. While the Kings sit at 3-6-1 with recent momentum, the Islanders come in at a commanding 7-3-0 record. Both teams have recovered with 2 days of rest, setting the stage for a closely contested affair.
Team Form & Recent Performance
The Kings' 3-6-1 record doesn't tell the complete story. Los Angeles has posted 2 wins in their last 5 games, suggesting the team is beginning to find their footing after a rough stretch. This upward trend is crucial—it indicates the Kings' core players are starting to execute at a higher level, even if the overall record remains disappointing.
The Islanders, meanwhile, sit comfortably in the playoff picture with a 7-3-0 mark and 3 wins in their last 5 games. New York's consistency and recent form represent the kind of sustained excellence that typically translates to playoff positioning. With equal rest for both teams (2 days since their last contests), neither side carries a back-to-back disadvantage into this matchup.
Here's where the Kings vs Islanders pick becomes interesting.
The Islanders are nearly even in possession metrics but trail significantly in shot quality and dangerous chance generation—a classic hallmark of a team that plays tight defense but doesn't necessarily dominate play creation.
This analytics divergence reveals a critical insight: the Islanders have been outplayed in terms of underlying play but have stayed competitive through discipline and goaltending. The Kings, despite their record, have been the better team on the ice in many respects.
Goalie Matchup
Darcy Kuemper takes the net for Los Angeles carrying a 15-13-10 record.
Ilya Sorokin starts for New York with an impressive 24-14-2 record—a stark contrast to Kuemper's stat line. Sorokin's superior record reflects both better team support and his own elite play. The Russian netminder has been one of the Islanders' most consistent performers this season. In the NHL picks arena, Sorokin's ability to steal games cannot be overlooked, even when the Islanders don't control play.
Prediction
WP Hockey Predictor Pick: Los Angeles Kings (Slight-Lean confidence tier)
This razor-thin margin underscores just how evenly matched these teams truly are on paper.
The Kings are generating better opportunities and controlling play at elite-shot locations.
The pick assumes Kuemper performs at league average and both teams execute at typical efficiency rates. Run your own prediction to adjust for any variables we haven't captured.
Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's prediction, as they incorporate last-minute goalie confirmations, injury updates, and live odds closer to game time. Always check the picks page for the most up-to-date selections.