Nassau Coliseum plays host to an intriguing tilt as the New York Islanders take on the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will air this East-West matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 5.
Vegas Golden Knights at New York Islanders Odds
Netting moneyline bettors 8.8 units, the Islanders are 18-8 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL in this young season, is an improvement over the 48-34 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 26 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 11-3 SU at home this season.
New York has converted on 17.7 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
As a team, NY has been whistled for penalties just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 6.8 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 25.3 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (nine wins, six losses, and two OT losses) has been the top option in goal for the Islanders this season. If they, however, choose to give him the evening off, head coach Barry Trotz may roll with Thomas Greiss (10-4-4 record, .931 save percentage, 2.18 goals against average).
The Isles will continue relying on leadership from Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson. Barzal (24 points) has tallied 11 goals and 13 assists and has recorded two or more points in seven different games this year. Nelson has eight goals and 12 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 12 games.
On the visiting bench, Vegas is 15-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 30 regular season outings, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As an away team , Vegas is 8-7 SU.
Vegas has scored on 23.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 85.9 percent of all penalties.
Vegas’ players have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last ten contests. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Marc-Andre Fleury (27.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Vegas. Fleury has 11 wins, nine losses, and two OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .919 save percentage and 2.54 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Golden Knights, the offense will be heavily coordinated by Max Pacioretty (10 goals, 16 assists) and William Karlsson (eight goals, 17 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights at New York Islanders Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in four of New York’s last five outings.
- Vegas has attempted 33.4 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 30.0 in its last five road outings.
- The Islanders are 14-4 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Golden Knights are 7-6 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- New York is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 3-0 in shootouts.
- New York is ranked 19th in the league with 7.3 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended down, however, as it has created 6.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Vegas is putting up 3.5 goals per game over the team’s four-game winning streak.
- Vegas has created 7.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 10.0 takeaways per game (ranked first in the NHL).
