Archive note: Technical commentary has been removed. This remains historical pregame coverage; original selections have been retained where stated.

Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's predictions, 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.

Friday night brings two intriguing Eastern and Western Conference matchups that showcase contrasting narratives. The Los Angeles Kings travel to face the New York Islanders in a statistical coin flip between two evenly-matched teams, while the Edmonton Oilers visit the St. Louis Blues in a back-to-back situation that could significantly impact performance. Our NHL predictions for March 13, 2026 reveal some compelling value in both matchups, so let's dive into the numbers.

Los Angeles Kings @ New York Islanders

This matchup represents one of the tightest statistical races we'll see all season. With two days of rest, the Kings should be fresh and ready to compete.

The Islanders, meanwhile, sit at 7-3-0 and are enjoying better overall form with three wins in their last five games.

The goalie matchup leans slightly toward the home side, with Ilya Sorokin's exceptional 24-14-2 record and proven pedigree against Darcy Kuemper's more pedestrian 15-13-10 mark. Our free NHL picks favor the Kings in this tight contest. WP Hockey Predictor gives the Los Angeles Kings a Slight-Lean confidence tier, edging the Islanders—essentially a pick'em game with the slightest lean toward the underdog.

Edmonton Oilers @ St. Louis Blues

The Oilers face a challenging road trip scenario, arriving in St. Louis on zero days' rest after playing yesterday. This back-to-back situation historically presents significant fatigue concerns, and Edmonton's 4-6-0 record reflects their season-long struggles. However, the Oilers have managed three wins in their last five games, suggesting they've found some recent offensive rhythm.

The Blues are also navigating the back-to-back gauntlet but hold a much stronger record at 6-3-1. St. Louis has posted four wins in their last five games and appears to be the more stable, healthier team heading into this contest.

This creates an interesting dynamic for our NHL picks today. The Edmonton Oilers receive a Confident rating against the St. Louis Blues, with the original article describing Edmonton as the visiting underdog.

The tool allows you to adjust for live odds, injury updates, and last-minute lineup changes, giving you the edge needed to make informed decisions on these tight NHL predictions today.

Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's predictions, 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.