The Islanders sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 69 points, one point shy of the second place Pittsburgh Penguins (70 points), though the Pens have two games in-hand. Montreal is tied with the Detroit Red Wings (72 points) but claim second place in the division with one fewer game played (57).

Matthew Schaefer rewrote the NHL record books in a historic 55-second span in the Islanders' overtime comeback over the Canadiens.

Mother Nature wrecked the Islanders’ plans to skate on Monday, so they will have only two practices left before resuming their season on Thursday in Montreal after the three-week Olympic break. The Islanders (32-21-5) have 24 regular-season games remaining and sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division.

A regulation win would put the Isles eight points clear of the Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but the opposite would put Columbus just four back of the Isles with two games in hand. With the trade deadline looming, the stakes for this encounter are about as high as they get in the regular season.

Expert recap and game analysis of the New York Islanders vs. Montreal Canadiens NHL game from February 26, 2026 on ESPN.

Our Islanders vs. Canadiens predictions are calling for Nick Suzuki to pick up where he left off before the Olympics and tally another assist on Thursday, February 26.

It may not have looked pretty or, at times, even convincing, but the Islanders have won three straight games and six of their last eight. That recent success will be tested this weekend with a tough back-to-back.

Maybe the first game back after three weeks was always going to be about which team could shake the cobwebs off quicker, and certainly neither the Islanders nor Canadiens were anything like the best versions of themselves on Thursday night.