Josh Bailey, Mathew Barzal, and the New York Islanders will do battle against Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in an East-West tilt. This one gets started at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 20 and it’s being shown live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
New York Islanders vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-190) is currently favored over New York (+165), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Losing 3.3 units for moneyline bettors, Vegas is 19-17 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, is a noticeable slide from what the team recorded during last year’s regular season (51-31). Of the team’s 36 regular season outings, 18 have gone under the total, while 17 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 10-4 SU at home this season.
The Golden Knights have converted on 20.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
With a .907 save percentage and 24.9 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (19-12-2) has been the top option in goal for Vegas this season. If Vegas chooses to give him the night off, however, it may roll with the winless Malcolm Subban (0-6-6 record, .881 save percentage, 3.48 goals against average).
New York has netted 6.4 units for moneyline bettors this season and is currently 17-16 straight up (SU). Through 33 regular season contests, 19 of its games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the visiting team so far, the Islanders are 9-8 SU.
The Islanders have converted on just 15.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.5 percent of all penalties.
Thomas Greiss (.919 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for New York. Greiss is averaging 25.3 saves per game and has 14 wins, seven losses, and one OT loss to his credit.
New York Islanders vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Penalties and power plays may be key tonight. The Islanders are 6-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 11-10 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Golden Knights are 10-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 15-12 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Three of New York’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone under in four of New York’s last five games.
- New York is ranked 19th this season with 10.7 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it’s averaged 12.2 giveaways over its last 10 games and 13.0 giveaways over its last five.
- Vegas is ranked 14th this season with 9.6 giveaways per game. That figure has improved lately, however, as the team’s averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 8.8 giveaways over its last five.
- This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. New York skaters have accounted for the fifth-most hits in the league (25.8 per game) while the Knights have registered the fourth-most (27.1).
