The New York Islanders are heading back to the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday night, and if history has taught us anything, it's that you should never count them out. Fresh off a miraculous 2025 lottery win where they defied 3.5% odds to land future Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer, the Islanders are once again chasing lightning in a bottle. This time, they enter with just a 2.0% chance—but that's exactly the kind of underdog story that makes hockey so thrilling.

Here's where it gets interesting: even if the Islanders beat the odds again, they won't be picking first overall for a second straight draft. Due to NHL rules, a lottery team can only move up a maximum of 10 spots. So a "win" for New York would mean jumping from 13th to third overall. That also means the Vancouver Canucks—who hold the best odds at 18.5%—would secure the top pick. In other words, the Islanders will either select third or stay put at 13th.

Now, let's talk numbers. Team statistician Eric Hornick has crunched the data, and the Islanders have exactly 20 lucky combinations that would land them that third pick. And here's a fun fact: the number 14 appears in 10 of those combinations. It seems fate has a favorite digit. Hornick also points out that the odds of the Islanders winning the lottery at 3.5% and then again at 2.0% in consecutive years are a staggering 1 in 1,428. That's the kind of stat that makes you believe in hockey gods.

Whether you're a die-hard Islanders fan or just love a good underdog narrative, Tuesday night's lottery is must-watch drama. Tune in live from Secaucus on ESPN, Sportsnet, or TVA at 7 PM ET to see if New York can pull off another miracle. And hey, if you're feeling lucky, maybe grab some new Islanders gear to channel that winning energy—because in hockey, hope springs eternal.