T-Mobile Arena plays host to an enticing matchup as the Florida Panthers square off against the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. This East-West matchup gets started at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 28, and it will be showcased live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Florida Panthers at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-210) is currently the favorite over Florida (+175), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals (-125 to bet the under, +105 for the over).
Losing 10.4 units for moneyline bettors, the Golden Knights are 33-31 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 managed during last year’s regular season (51-31). Of its 64 games this season, 29 have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and just four have pushed. The team’s 18-14 SU at home this year.
Vegas has converted on 17.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
Vegas, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.8 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 7.4 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
With a .908 save percentage and 25.4 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (30 wins, 24 losses, and five OT losses) has been the top option in goal for the Golden Knights this year. If the Knights decide to give him a rest, however, head coach Gerard Gallant may turn to Malcolm Subban (3-7-7 record, .912 save percentage, 2.75 goals against average).
Mark Stone and Alex Tuch will each be offensive focal points for the Golden Knights. Stone (62 points) has tallied 28 goals and 34 assists and has recorded two or more points 16 times this year. Tuch has 16 goals and 27 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 32 games.
Florida has lost 10.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far and is currently 28-34 straight up (SU). A total of 33 of its outings have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under the total and just seven have pushed. As the road team, Florida is 12-18 SU.
Florida has converted on 26.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 10th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Florida’s skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, 4.0 per game over their last five games total, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
James Reimer (23.7 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Florida. Reimer owns a 14-21-6 record, while registering a .902 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average this year.
Aleksander Barkov (26 goals, 40 assists) has been one of the primary facilitators on offense for the visiting Panthers.
Florida Panthers vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Two of Vegas’ last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone over in four of Florida’s last five games.
- Two offenses that have pounded opponents’ goalies with shots, Florida has registered the league’s sixth-most shots on goal (33.2) while Vegas’s attempted the second-most (34.1). The Panthers have averaged 35.8 shot attempts over their last five home games and the Knights have taken 39.2 shots over their last five home outings.
- Six of Vegas’ last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 2-4 overall in those games.
- This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Florida skaters have accounted for the league’s 12th-most hits per game (22.6) while the Golden Knights have recorded the second-most (28.2).
