The BB&T Center will be hosting an East-West clash as the first-year Vegas Golden Knights face off against the Florida Panthers. It’s the final time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 19, and it can be caught live on Sportsnet 360.
Vegas Golden Knights at Florida Panthers Odds
Florida (-115) is currently favored over Vegas (-105) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Vegas is 30-14 straight up (SU) and has earned 18.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 44 regular season outings, 23 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just two have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Knights are 12-10 SU.
Vegas has converted on 17.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Knights have been sent to the penalty box just 3.3 times per game this season, and 2.7 per game over its last ten matchups. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.7 saves per game with a .945 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (10-5-2) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this year. Fleury played last night, however, so head coach Gerard Gallant may decide to rest him and roll with Malcolm Subban instead (12-2 record, .918 save percentage, 2.38 goals against average).
The visiting Golden Knights have relied on Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson this season. Marchessault has 42 points on 16 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 12 different games. Karlsson has 24 goals and 14 assists to his name (and has notched at least one point in 25 games).
Florida is 18-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 22 of its outings have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 10-10 SU as the home team this year.
The Panthers have converted on just 15.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
Panthers skaters have been sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
James Reimer has denied 28.4 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Panthers. Reimer has 12 wins, 18 losses, and five OT losses to his credit and has recorded a mediocre 3.05 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this year.
Jonathan Huberdeau (16 goals, 28 assists) will lead the attack for the Panthers.
Vegas Golden Knights at Florida Panthers Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Vegas’ last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-0 in those games).
The extra-man advantage may prove to be key in tonight’s game. The Golden Knights are 11-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 21-10 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Panthers are 5-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 7-16 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Vegas is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 2-3 in shootouts.
Vegas may hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s an impressive 14-7 in games decided by one goal, while Florida is 9-12 in such games.
The over has hit in four of Florida’s last five outings.
Florida is ranked 28th this season with 11.9 giveaways per game. That figure has improved recently, however, as the team’s averaged 10.6 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.8 giveaways over its last five.
Vegas skaters have averaged 4.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 17th in the league).
