The Ottawa Senators visit the New York Islanders on April 11, 2026, in a very important Eastern Conference game at UBS Arena. Ottawa come into this matchup in strong form and are playing some of their best attacking hockey of the season. The Islanders are still in the race as well, but their recent results have been less stable. With both teams chasing crucial points late in the season, this game should have playoff-like intensity from the opening faceoff.
Match Details
| Match | Ottawa Senators vs New York Islanders |
|---|---|
| Date | April 11, 2026 |
| Time | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Venue | UBS Arena |
| Location | Elmont, New York |
| Broadcast | MSGSN, TSN5, TVAS |
Eastern Conference Standings Snapshot
| Team | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa Senators | 7th | 94 |
| New York Islanders | 10th | 91 |
Ottawa are holding a better position in the standings, but the gap is still small. This is why the result of this game matters so much for both teams.
Betting Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Senators -137 |
| Moneyline | Islanders +114 |
| Puck Line | Senators -1.5 |
| Puck Line | Islanders +1.5 |
| Total Goals | 6 |
The market gives Ottawa a slight edge, mainly because of their recent winning run and stronger scoring form.
Recent Form
Ottawa Senators – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 10 | Panthers | Win 5-1 |
| Apr 8 | Lightning | Win 6-2 |
| Apr 6 | Hurricanes | Win 6-3 |
| Apr 4 | Wild | Loss 1-4 |
| Apr 3 | Sabres | Win 4-1 |
Ottawa have won four of their last five games. Even more impressive, they scored at least five goals in three straight wins before this matchup.
New York Islanders – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 10 | Maple Leafs | Win 5-3 |
| Apr 5 | Hurricanes | Loss 3-4 |
| Apr 4 | Flyers | Loss 1-4 |
| Apr 1 | Sabres | Loss 3-4 |
| Mar 31 | Penguins | Loss 3-8 |
The Islanders finally stopped their losing run with a good win over Toronto, but before that they had dropped four straight games.
Head-to-Head Record
This season, both teams have already beaten each other once.
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2026 | Senators 3-2 Islanders |
| Oct 19, 2025 | Islanders 5-4 Senators |
The head-to-head record has been close, and these games usually stay competitive until the final minutes.
Team Preview
Ottawa Senators Preview
Ottawa are entering this game with confidence. Their offense has looked sharp, quick, and direct in recent matches. Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and Jake Sanderson have all played important roles in this hot run.
One major boost for Ottawa has been the return of Jake Sanderson. Since coming back from injury, he has added speed, calm passing, and offense from the blue line. That has made Ottawa more dangerous in transition and on sustained attacks.
Brady Tkachuk is also in very good form. He has been active around the net, creating space for teammates and contributing with points on a regular basis. Tim Stutzle continues to drive the attack with his pace and creativity.
Ottawa’s recent results show a team that is not just winning, but doing it with authority.
New York Islanders Preview
The Islanders are still fighting, but their form has been uneven. Their latest 5-3 win against Toronto showed what this team can do when the forwards click and the defense keeps structure. Still, their recent losses also showed a team that can lose control for stretches.
Mathew Barzal remains one of the most important players in the Islanders lineup. Bo Horvat gives balance at center, while Anders Lee adds finishing ability near the crease. Matthew Schaefer has also become an important part of their attack and transition play.
The Islanders have had trouble staying organized defensively in recent games. Against fast teams, they have allowed too many dangerous chances. That could be a concern again against an Ottawa side that is scoring freely.
Projected Lineups
Ottawa Senators Projected Lineup
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Line 1 | Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux |
| Line 2 | Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridly Greig |
| Line 3 | Nick Cousins – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio |
| Line 4 | Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund |
| Defense 1 | Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub |
| Defense 2 | Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence |
| Defense 3 | Lassi Thomson – Nikolas Matinpalo |
| Goalies | Linus Ullmark, James Reimer |
New York Islanders Projected Lineup
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Line 1 | Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Simon Holmstrom |
| Line 2 | Calum Ritchie – Mathew Barzal – Brayden Schenn |
| Line 3 | Ondrej Palat – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Emil Heineman |
| Line 4 | Kyle MacLean – Casey Cizikas – Marc Gatcomb |
| Defense 1 | Matthew Schaefer – Ryan Pulock |
| Defense 2 | Adam Pelech – Tony DeAngelo |
| Defense 3 | Carson Soucy – Scott Mayfield |
| Goalies | Ilya Sorokin, David Rittich |
Goalie Matchup
| Team | Goalie | Season Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Senators | Linus Ullmark | Coming off a strong game vs Panthers |
| Islanders | Ilya Sorokin | Still the key figure in net for New York |
Sorokin gives the Islanders a chance in almost every game, but Ullmark is also coming in with momentum after a strong recent outing.
Injury Report
Ottawa Senators
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Nick Jensen | Out |
| Dennis Gilbert | Out |
| Tyler Kleven | Out |
New York Islanders
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Kyle Palmieri | Out |
| Alexander Romanov | Out |
| Semyon Varlamov | Out |
| Maxim Shabanov | Out |
The Islanders are dealing with more notable absences, especially in depth and support areas.
Key Players to Watch
Ottawa Senators
| Player | Why He Matters |
|---|---|
| Brady Tkachuk | Leading the attack with strong recent form |
| Tim Stutzle | Main playmaker and transition threat |
| Jake Sanderson | Big impact since returning from injury |
New York Islanders
| Player | Why He Matters |
|---|---|
| Mathew Barzal | Creative engine of the offense |
| Bo Horvat | Reliable two-way center |
| Matthew Schaefer | Active in attack and shots on goal |
Best Picks
| Bet Type | Pick |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Senators |
| Player Prop | Jake Sanderson Over 0.5 points |
| Player Prop | Brady Tkachuk Over 0.5 points |
| Team Total Lean | Senators Over 2.5 goals |
Ottawa’s current form makes them the stronger pick. Their offense is rolling, and Sanderson’s return has clearly improved the team. Brady Tkachuk also looks like a good points option because he is involved in almost every dangerous sequence right now.
Why Ottawa Have the Edge
Ottawa are simply playing better hockey at the moment. They are scoring more, skating with more confidence, and getting important contributions from both forwards and defensemen. The Islanders can still make this a close game, especially at home, but their recent defensive issues are hard to ignore.
If Ottawa start fast and continue their recent attacking rhythm, they should create enough chances to take control of this matchup.
Final Prediction
This should be a competitive game because both teams need the points, but Ottawa look more complete right now. Their offense has been much sharper, and the return of Jake Sanderson has strengthened the team at both ends.
The Islanders could score because they still have skilled forwards and home support, but Ottawa’s current momentum gives them the advantage.
Predicted Score
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Ottawa Senators | 4 |
| New York Islanders | 3 |
Where to Watch Senators vs Islanders
Fans can watch the game live on MSGSN, TSN5, and TVAS. Puck drop is set for 1:00 p.m. ET at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
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