The Winnipeg Jets and the expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights meet at Bell MTS Place in a Western Conference matchup. It’s the third time these teams have met in the regular season. The first puck will drop at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 1, and you can catch it live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
With a -125 moneyline, Winnipeg comes into the game as the favorite. The line for Vegas sits at +105, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 to bet the over, +100 for the under). Those O/U odds have shifted after originally opening at -125 over, +105 under.
Vegas is 33-16 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 20.1 units this year. 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just two have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Knights are 14-11 SU.
Vegas has converted on 19.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
The Knights, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties just 3.2 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over its past five games. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .942 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (13-6-2) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, Vegas might go with Malcolm Subban (12-3-1), who has a .914 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average this year.
Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Golden Knights. Marchessault (48 points) has tallied 18 goals and 30 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 13 different games. Karlsson has 27 goals and 17 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 29 games).
Winnipeg is 30-21 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 8.3 units this year. 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 18-4 SU at home this season.
The Jets come into the matchup with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve converted on 24.9 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jets players have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Connor Hellebuyck has denied 28.0 shots per game as the primary option in goal for the Jets. Hellebuyck has 26 wins, 15 losses, and seven overtime losses to his name and has registered a .924 save percentage and 2.35 goals against average this year.
The Jets will be led on offense by Blake Wheeler (14 goals, 42 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets Betting Predictions
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Winnipeg’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of Winnipeg’s last five outings.
Four of Vegas’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-0 in those games.
The Jets this season have handed the 12th-most hits per game (22.0).
