Two teams facing each other for the first time this season, the Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Islanders face off at the Barclays Center. AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will broadcast this East-West matchup, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 12.
Vegas Golden Knights at New York Islanders Odds
Vegas (-145) is being chosen as the favorite over New York (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 6 goals. If you want to play this matchup’s total, you’ll be looking at odds of -105 for the over and -115 for the under.
Vegas is 17-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 32 regular season outings, 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Knights are 7-11 SU on the road in 2018-19.
Vegas has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the seventh-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Vegas has been penalized just 3.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .908 save percentage and 24.4 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (17-11-1) has been the best option in goal for Vegas this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Malcolm Subban (0-5), who has a .859 save percentage and 4.02 goals against average this year.
The visiting Golden Knights have relied on William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault this year. Karlsson has 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists, and has recorded two or more points four times. Marchessault has 11 goals and 12 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 16 games).
On the other side of the ice, New York is 14-15 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 7-7 SU at home this season.
New York has converted on just 14.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 29th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all penalties.
New York skaters have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Thomas Greiss has denied 25.4 shots per game as the top choice in goal for New York. Greiss has 12 wins, seven losses, and one OT loss to his name and has maintained a 2.58 goals against average and a .918 save percentage this year.
The Isles offense will be led by Josh Bailey (seven goals, 17 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights at New York Islanders Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Islanders, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Notes
- Two of New York’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 1-3 overall in shootouts this year.
- The under has hit in four of New York’s last five games.
- Over Vegas’ last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
- This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Vegas skaters have dished out the league’s third-most hits per game (27.7) and the Islanders have handed the fifth-most (26.0).
