The Detroit Red Wings and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights face off at Little Caesars Arena in an East-West tilt. It’s their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season. The opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 8, and you’ll be able to witness the game live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Detroit Red Wings Odds
Vegas heads into the game as the noticeable favorite with a moneyline of -145. The line for Detroit sits at +125, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-125 for the under, +105 for the over).
Vegas is 42-24 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 17.0 units this season. 36 of its matches have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just two have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Knights are 18-15 SU.
Vegas has converted on 21.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it has successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all penalties.
Vegas, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.3 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.5 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (22-12-3) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this season. If Vegas chooses to rest him, however, they may go with Malcolm Subban (12-4-1), who has a .912 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this year.
Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Golden Knights. Marchessault has 65 points on 22 goals and 43 assists, and has recorded multiple points 20 times. Smith has 22 goals and 38 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 39 games).
On the other bench, Detroit is 26-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 66 regular season matches, 39 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 13-21 SU at home this year.
Detroit has converted on 18.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Detroit players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard has stopped 26.5 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard has 18 wins, 32 losses, and eight overtime losses to his name and has registered a pedestrian 2.80 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this season.
Dylan Larkin (nine goals, 40 assists) will pace the attack for the Red Wings.
Vegas Golden Knights at Detroit Red Wings Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Red Wings, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Detroit is 4-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-2 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in three of Detroit’s last five games.
- Detroit has allowed 4.0 goals per game, while scoring just 2.5 per contest, on its four-game losing skid.
