The Nashville Predators and the Vegas Golden Knights collide at T-Mobile Arena in a Western Conference matchup. It’s the second time these teams have met in the regular season. The first puck will drop at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 2, and it’ll be showcased live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Nashville Predators vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-145) is currently favored over Nashville (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Earning moneyline bettors 19.4 units, Vegas is 26-11 straight up (SU) overall thus far. Among its 37 games this season, 22 have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 16-3 SU at home this year.
The Golden Knights have converted on 18.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Golden Knights have been penalized just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over their last five games total, and 3.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Boasting a .922 save percentage and 25.5 saves per game, Malcolm Subban (11-2) has been the best option in goal for Vegas this year. If the Knights, however, choose to give him the night off, head coach Gerard Gallant may roll with Maxime Lagace (7-7-7 record, .872 save percentage, 3.79 goals against average).
The Knights will continue seeking leadership out of Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson. Marchessault (36 points) is up to 14 goals and 22 assists and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games this year. Karlsson has 20 goals and 13 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 21 games.
Nashville is 23-15 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 5.5 units this season. Through 38 regular season outings, 20 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. The Predators are 11-9 SU as a road team this season.
The Predators currently tout the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve converted on 24.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities in the 2017-18 season. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully defended 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Nashville’s players have been called for penalties 5.4 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their past five games. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays an unhealthy 14.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Pekka Rinne (29.4 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville. Rinne owns a 19-10-3 record, while registering a .924 save percentage and 2.47 goals against average this year.
Filip Forsberg (15 goals, 19 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Predators.
Nashville Predators vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Vegas’ last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone under in three of Vegas’ last five games.
Vegas has allowed 2.9 goals per game overall this year, but is allowing just 1.7 per match up over its seven-game winning streak.
Over Vegas’ last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-0 in those games).
