The Xcel Energy Center will be hosting a Western Conference tilt as the Minnesota Wild welcome the expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights. The opening face-off is at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, February 2, and fans at home can watch the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild Odds
Vegas is 33-16 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 20.1 units this year. Through 49 regular season matches, 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Knights are 14-11 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
Vegas has converted on 19.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.2 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Knights have been sent to the penalty box just 3.2 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 2.6 per game over its last five matchups. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .942 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (13-6-2) has been the top option in goal for Vegas this year. If Vegas chooses to rest him, however, they may go with Malcolm Subban (12-3-1 record, .914 save percentage, 2.49 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Golden Knights. Marchessault (48 points) has tallied 18 goals and 30 assists, and has recorded multiple points 14 times. Karlsson has 27 goals and 17 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 30 games).
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 27-23 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.2e-16 units this year. Through 50 regular season matches, 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 17-8 SU at home.
The Wild have converted on just 20.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Wild players have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk has stopped 27.7 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has 20 wins, 13 losses, and three OT losses to his name and has recorded a .917 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Eric Staal (20 goals, 23 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Minnesota is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-2 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
Over Vegas’ last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-0 in those games).
