In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Minnesota Wild and the first-year franchise Vegas Golden Knights collide at the Xcel Energy Center in a Western Conference matchup. Fox Sports North will air the action, which gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 30.
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild Odds
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Minnesota (+155) is playing the role of underdog to Minnesota (-175), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
Vegas is 15-8 straight up (SU) and has earned 10.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 23 regular season outings, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while seven have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Golden Knights team is 6-6 SU on the road.
Vegas has converted on 21.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties.
The Knights, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box just 3.6 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 3.4 per game over its past five matchups total, and 3.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 22.3 saves per game with a .870 save percentage, Maxime Lagace (6-6-1) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this year. If head coach Gerard Gallant decides to rest him, however, the team might go with Malcolm Subban (5-1 record, .928 save percentage, 2.09 goals against average).
William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault will both lead the way for the visiting Golden Knights. Karlsson has 22 points on 13 goals and nine assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Marchessault has eight goals and 13 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 10 games).
On the other bench, Minnesota is 11-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 13 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team’s 6-5 SU at home.
The Wild have converted on 24.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota players have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties a whopping 14.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Devan Dubnyk (28.4 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has nine wins, nine losses, and two overtime losses to his credit and has registered a pedestrian 2.85 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this season.
The Wild offense will be led by Eric Staal (eight goals, 13 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
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Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Over Vegas last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- The Golden Knights are 7-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-6 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, Vegas may hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 6-3 in games decided by one goal, while Minnesota is 4-6 in such games.
- Minnesota skaters have averaged 3.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 6.5 giveaways per game (ranked 4th overall).
- Vegas has averaged 7.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.5 giveaways per game (ranked 21st).
