Two clubs that split their head-to-head series (one win apiece) last year, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Pittsburgh Penguins face off at PPG Paints Arena in an East-West showdown. AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will air the action, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 11.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Losing 1.6 units for moneyline bettors, Pittsburgh is 1-1 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 47-35 record that the team managed during the 2017-18 season campaign. Thus far, the team is 1-1 SU at home.
The Penguins have successfully found the net on 22.2 percent of their power play opportunities in 2018-19. That’s a big drop-off from last season, when they were ranked first in the league by scoring on 25.7 percent of their extra-man advantages. Their penalty kill has gotten stronger year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 80.4 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 14th overall last season) to 100.0 percent this year.
The Penguins, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 2.5 times per game this season. Last year, they posted the figure in the league with 4.0 penalties per game. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 5.0 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 27.0 saves per game with a .831 save percentage, Matt Murray (1-1) has been the primary goalkeeper for Pittsburgh this season.
On the other hand, Vegas is 1-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through four regular season contests, two of its games has gone over the total, while one has gone under the total and none have pushed. As the road team so far, the Golden Knights are 1-2 SU.
The Knights have scored on 0.0 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 21.0 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a percentage that was right in line with the league average). The team’s gone from killing off 81.3 percent of opponent power plays (ranked ninth overall last season) to 66.7 percent in 2018-19.
Vegas’ players have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, a number that’s fairly close to the 3.6 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 7.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to kill penalties for 7.8 minutes per outing this year.
Marc-Andre Fleury (19.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Vegas. Fleury owns a 1-3 record, while registering a .846 save percentage and 3.95 goals against average this year.
Jonathan Marchessault (two goals, two assists) and William Karlsson (zero goals, three assists) have been the top playmakers for Vegas and will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
Vegas went 4-3 in games that went to a shootout last year. Pittsburgh was 2-2 in shootouts.
Vegas has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
Vegas skaters registered 24.9 hits per game last season, while the Pens logged 24.6 hits per contest.
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