Two clubs that many consider to be the strongest in the NHL, the Nashville Predators and the first-year franchise Vegas Golden Knights meet at T-Mobile Arena in a Western Conference showdown. The game will get going at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 2 and it can be caught live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-145) is currently favored over Nashville (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.
Netting 19.4 units for moneyline bettors, Vegas is 26-11 straight up (SU) overall this year. Through 37 regular season contests, 22 of the teams games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just two have pushed. The teams 16-3 SU at home this year.
The Golden Knights have converted on 18.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.
The Golden Knights, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.4 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties for just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
With a .922 save percentage and 25.5 saves per game, Malcolm Subban (11 wins, two losses) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant chooses to give him the night off, however, Vegas could roll with Maxime Lagace (7-7-7 record, .872 save percentage, 3.79 goals against average).
The Knights will continue looking for leadership from Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson. Marchessault (36 points) has produced 14 goals and 22 assists and has recorded multiple points in 10 different games this year. Karlsson has 20 goals and 13 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 21 games.
On the other bench, Nashville is 23-15 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 38 regular season matches, 20 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. The Predators are 11-9 SU as an away team this season.
The Predators come into the matchup with the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve found the net on 24.8 percent of their extra-man chances in the 2017-18 season. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Nashville’s skaters have been penalized 5.4 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five games. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 14.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Pekka Rinne (.924 save percentage and 2.47 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville. Rinne is averaging 29.4 saves per game and owns a 19-10-3 record.
Filip Forsberg (15 goals, 19 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Predators.
Nashville Predators vs. Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Golden Knights, 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 year.
- The total has gone under in three of Vegas last five games.
- Vegas has allowed 2.9 goals per game overall this year, but has allowed just 1.7 per match up over its seven-game win streak.
- Over Vegas last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-0 in those games).
