T-Mobile Arena will be the site for an East-versus-West matchup as the first-year franchise Vegas Golden Knights square off against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s the final time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The puck drops at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 31, and you can catch the game live on Sportsnet.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-140) is currently favored over Toronto (+120), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
Earning 18.4 units for moneyline bettors, Vegas is 25-11 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. Of the team’s 36 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team’s 15-3 SU at home.
The Golden Knights have converted on 19.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 20th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Golden Knights have been called for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Boasting a .872 save percentage and 23.9 saves per game, Maxime Lagace (7-7-1) has been the best goalkeeper for Vegas this year. If head coach Gerard Gallant chooses to give him the day off, however, the team might turn to Malcolm Subban (10-2-2 record, .926 save percentage, 2.18 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron will each spearhead the attack for the Golden Knights. Marchessault (34 points) has tallied 13 goals and 21 assists and has recorded two or more points on 10 separate occasions this year. Perron has nine goals and 20 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 19 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Toronto is 23-16 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.5 units this year. A total of 20 of its outings have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just three have pushed. The Maple Leafs are 12-11 SU as a road team this season.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 22.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 13th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.3 percent of all penalties.
Toronto’s players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 4.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Frederik Andersen (31.5 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Toronto. Andersen owns a 20-11-1 record, and has registered a .923 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average this year.
Mitchell Marner (five goals, 24 assists) has been one of the top facilitators on offense for the visiting Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Toronto is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-2 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Vegas’ last five outings.
Vegas has allowed 2.9 goals per game overall this season, but is giving up only 1.5 per match up over its six-game winning streak.
Six of Toronto’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-4 in those games.
