A pair of teams currently on winning streaks, the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights meet at T-Mobile Arena in a Pacific Division tilt. The opening face-off is at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 20, and it’s being televised live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Anaheim is 5-2 straight up (SU) and has netted 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That SU winning percentage, ranked fifth in the league so far in this young season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed last season (44-38). Through seven regular season contests, four of its games have gone under the total, while two have gone over and just one has pushed. The Ducks are 3-1 SU on the road in 2018-19.
The Ducks have found the net on 27.8 percent of their power play chances thus far. That’s a nice improvement from last season, when they were ranked 24th in the NHL by converting on 17.3 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has weakened slightly since last year, however, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 82.3 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked fifth overall last season) to 81.8 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, the Ducks have been sent to the penalty box 3.4 times per game this season. Last year, that figure was the third-highest mark in the league at 4.3 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for only 7.3 minutes per matchup this season.
With a .948 save percentage and 33.7 saves per game, John Gibson (4-2-1) has been the top option in goal for Anaheim this year. If Anaheim decides to rest him, however, head coach Randy Carlyle might turn to Ryan Miller (1-1), who has a .946 save percentage and 1.51 goals against average this year.
Hampus Lindholm and Jakob Silfverberg will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Ducks. Lindholm (seven points) has tallied two goals and five assists this season while Silfverberg has three goals and four assists to his name through the early stages of the regular season.
Vegas is 3-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through seven regular season matches, four of its games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. Thus far, the team’s 1-1 SU as the home team.
The Golden Knights have converted on 5.3 percent of their extra-man advantages this year after scoring on 21.0 percent (ranked 15th in league) last season. They’ve killed off a remarkable 81.0 percent of all penalties, compared to 81.3 percent a year ago (when they were ranked ninth overall).
Golden Knights skaters have been penalized only 3.3 times per game this season, a number that’s pretty 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’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 7.0 minutes per contest this year.
Marc-Andre Fleury (21.5 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Golden Knights. Fleury has three wins and three losses to his name and has recorded a mediocre 2.71 goals against average and a poor .896 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Jonathan Marchessault (four goals, four assists).
Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in three of Vegas’ last five outings.
Anaheim has managed 22.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Vegas has been attempting 27.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Anaheim skaters registered 24.2 hits per game last season, while the Knights logged 24.9 hits per matchup.
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