T-Mobile Arena is the site for an East-West matchup as the Carolina Hurricanes travel to Sin City to face the Vegas Golden Knights. AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will broadcast the matchup, and the puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 12.
Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas comes into the game as the favorite with a moneyline of -135. The line for Carolina sits at +115, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 under, +100 over.
The Golden Knights are 19-10 straight up (SU) and have earned 13.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. Among the team’s 29 games this season, 19 have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 11-2 SU at home this year.
Vegas has converted on 19.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.3 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Vegas has been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five matchups at home. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays for just 7.5 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 23.9 saves per game with a .872 save percentage, Maxime Lagace (7-7-1) has been the primary option in goal for the Golden Knights this year. If the Knights choose to give him a breather, however, the team might turn to Malcolm Subban (8-2-2 record, .924 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
The Knights will continue to rely on offensive production from Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson. Marchessault (26 points) has tallied 10 goals and 16 assists and has recorded two or more points on eight different occasions this year. Karlsson has 15 goals and 11 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 18 games.
On the other side of the ice, Carolina is 11-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 14 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the away team so far, Carolina is 5-11 SU.
Carolina has converted on just 15.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully defended 76.1 percent of all penalties.
Carolina’s skaters have been called for penalties only 2.8 times per game in total this season, 3.0 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (2.72 goals against average and .899 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Carolina. Darling is averaging 23.8 saves per game and has seven wins, 15 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit.
For the visiting Hurricanes, the offense will be facilitated by Teuvo Teravainen (eight goals, 16 assists) and Sebastian Aho (seven goals, 14 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Carolina has managed 30.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Vegas is averaging 39.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
Penalties and power plays could have a critical role in tonight’s game. The Hurricanes are 7-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-16 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Golden Knights are 8-4 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 11-7 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Two of Carolina’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
Vegas is ranked 3rd this season with 11.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as the team has forced 8.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.0 takeaways over its last five.
Carolina has scored just 2.0 goals per game (while giving up 3.5) over its last four games (0-4 SU over that span).
Carolina skaters have averaged 7.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 10.5 takeaways per game (ranked fourth in the NHL).
Vegas may have an advantage if it’s a close one late. The team’s 9-3 in games decided by one goal, while Carolina is just 4-12 in such games.
