T-Mobile Arena will play host to an East-versus-West showdown as the first-year franchise Vegas Golden Knights welcome the New Jersey Devils. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The action gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 14, and it can be seen live on MSG Network.
New Jersey Devils vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-185) is currently favored over New Jersey (+160) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
The Golden Knights are 45-24 straight up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 20.0 units this year. Through 69 regular season contests, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 24-9 SU at home.
Vegas has connected on 21.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Vegas has been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over its last five outings total, and 3.8 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 28.8 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (25-12-3) has been the best goalkeeper for the Golden Knights this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Malcolm Subban (12-4-4 record, .912 save percentage, 2.59 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron will both be focal points for the Golden Knights. Marchessault (65 points) has tallied 22 goals and 43 assists and has recorded multiple points in 20 different games this year. Perron has 16 goals and 46 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 42 games.
On the other side of the ice, New Jersey is 35-34 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.0 units this season. A total of 34 of its matches have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just two have pushed. New Jersey’s 17-17 SU as the visiting team this season.
New Jersey has converted on 20.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s players have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.3 per game over their past ten games. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 4.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cory Schneider (28.5 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for New Jersey. Schneider has 18 wins, 20 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .912 save percentage and 2.81 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall (30 goals, 44 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Devils.
New Jersey Devils vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in each of Vegas’ last five games.
Penalties and power plays could be extremely important in the outcome of this matchup. The Devils are 10-18 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-26 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Golden Knights are 16-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 34-15 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Vegas is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 5-4 in shootouts.
Vegas is ranked 3rd with 10.6 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended lower lately, however, as it has averaged 8.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.6 takeaways over its last five.
New Jersey skaters have created 10.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 8.1 takeaways per game (ranked ninth).
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