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Updated Jul 16, 5:27 PM ET

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Game Center

Islanders @ Vegas Golden Knights

Dec 18, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET

T-Mobile Arena, Paradise

UpcomingAwayRegular Season

NYI

New York Islanders

Puck Drop 10:00 PM ET

VGK

Vegas Golden Knights

Game Preview

Islanders @ Vegas Golden Knights

Dec 18, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET

T-Mobile Arena, Paradise

UpcomingAwayRegular Season

New York (43-34-5) visits Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17) at T-Mobile Arena. The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 2 meetings left. Team-season data puts New York at 2.79 GF/GP and 2.88 GA/GP, while Vegas Golden Knights sits at 3.22 GF/GP and 2.95 GA/GP. Goaltending leans toward I. Sorokin for New York and A. Hill for Vegas Golden Knights.

The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 2 meetings left.I. Sorokin and A. Hill anchor the strongest pregame edge in the feed.The probable starter duel should set the tone if either side gets a soft opening chance.

Preview assembled from NHL game-center feed · team season stats · season series · pregame matchup · standings · depth chart · injuries.

Quick Game Info

At a glance

Date

Dec 18, 2026

Puck Drop

10:00 PM

Venue

T-Mobile Arena

Matchup

Islanders away

Game Type

Regular Season

Status

Upcoming

Tale of the Tape

Team profile

Record

Islanders

43-34-5

Opponent

39-26-17

Points

Islanders

Opponent

GF / GP

Islanders

2.79

Opponent

3.22

GA / GP

Islanders

2.88

Opponent

2.95

Power Play

Islanders

16.5%

Opponent

24.6%

Penalty Kill

Islanders

80.8%

Opponent

81.4%

Last 10

Islanders

Unavailable

Opponent

Unavailable

Projected Matchup Notes

Preview lens

Goalie outlook

Net front

I. Sorokin and A. Hill anchor the strongest pregame edge in the feed.

Season profile

Tale of the tape

The numbers point to a contrast between New York's 2.79 GF/GP and 2.88 GA/GP and Vegas Golden Knights's 3.22 GF/GP and 2.95 GA/GP.

Goalie watch

Net front

The league feed includes a probable-goalie view, so the starter decision is a major pregame hinge point.

Season Series

2 meetings left

The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 2 meetings left.

Dec 17 @ Vegas Golden Knights

Upcoming

Dec 17, 2026

Upcoming road game

Still on the schedule

Mar 3 @ Vegas Golden Knights

Upcoming

Mar 3, 2027

Upcoming road game

Still on the schedule

Season-series order and status are sourced from the NHL game-center feed.

Key Storylines

Why this game matters

Story 01

Tale of the tape

Season profile

The numbers point to a contrast between New York's 2.79 GF/GP and 2.88 GA/GP and Vegas Golden Knights's 3.22 GF/GP and 2.95 GA/GP.

Story 02

Net front

Goalie watch

The league feed includes a probable-goalie view, so the starter decision is a major pregame hinge point.

Story 03

Five on four

Special teams

The matchup has a built-in special-teams angle: New York's 16.5% power play and 80.8% penalty kill against Vegas Golden Knights's 24.6% power play and 81.4% penalty kill.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights snapshot

Vegas Golden Knights

Snapshot

Vegas Golden Knights snapshot for Vegas Golden Knights.

Highlights

Recent form still warming up
J. Eichel leads points with 90
M. Stone leads goals with 28
J. Eichel leads assists with 63

Pressure points

24.6% PP, 81.4% PK, 3.22 GF/GP, 2.95 GA/GP

Player leaders and season stats come from the live game-center feed.

Islanders snapshot

New York Islanders

Snapshot

New York Islanders snapshot for NYI.

Highlights

Road matchup with Vegas Golden Knights
Recent form still warming up
M. Barzal leads points with 72
B. Horvat leads goals with 31

Pressure points

16.5% PP, 80.8% PK, 2.79 GF/GP, 2.88 GA/GP

Player leaders and season stats come from the live game-center feed.

Expected Lineup

Projected

Forward lines

Line 1

TBDTBDTBD

Line 2

TBDTBDTBD (Out)

Line 3

TBDTBDTBD

Line 4

TBDTBDTBD

Defense pairings

Pair 1

TBD (Day-to-Day)TBD

Pair 2

TBDTBD (IR)

Pair 3

TBDTBD

Goalies

TBDTBDTBD

Special teams

Power Play Unit 1

Power Play

TBDTBDTBDTBD (Out)TBD

Power Play Unit 2

Power Play

TBDTBDTBDTBDTBD

Penalty Kill Unit 1

Penalty Kill

TBDTBDTBD (Day-to-Day)TBD (IR)

Penalty Kill Unit 2

Penalty Kill

TBDTBDTBDTBD

Projected combinations update from recent usage and availability context.

Updated Jul 16, 11:24 AM

Injury / Availability

Availability

Mathew Barzal

Out

Mathew Barzal is listed as out on ESPN injury report.

Semyon Varlamov

Out

Varlamov (knee) has been returned from his conditioning role with AHL Bridgeport, per the AHL transaction log.

Kyle Palmieri

Out

Palmieri (knee) told reporters Wednesday that he should be ready to go for the start of training camp, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.

Ryan Pulock

Out

Pulock (undisclosed) will not play in Tuesday's home matchup versus Carolina.

Alexander Romanov

Out

Romanov (shoulder) will miss the final two games of the regular season, according to Stefen Rosner of NHL.com on Sunday.

Pierre Engvall

Out

Engvall (ankle) will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.

Depth-chart tags and current injury-report entries are surfaced together when available.

What to Watch

Fan guide

Goaltending swing

The probable starter duel should set the tone if either side gets a soft opening chance.

Top-line pressure

Road matchup with Vegas Golden Knights

Series leverage

The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 2 meetings left.

Special teams

New York's 16.5% power play meets Vegas Golden Knights's 81.4% penalty kill.