In a game featuring two of the league’s strongest penalty-kill units, the New Jersey Devils and the Vegas Golden Knights collide at T-Mobile Arena. AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will broadcast this East-West matchup, and the action gets going at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 6.
New Jersey Devils at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
The Golden Knights are 25-19 straight up (SU) and have lost 2.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Out of its 44 regular season outings, 21 of them have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team is 13-6 SU at home this season.
Vegas has converted on 20.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Vegas, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.0 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 25.3 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (24-14-4) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Golden Knights this season. If they decide to give him the day off, however, it may turn to Malcolm Subban (1-6-6 record, .895 save percentage, 3.10 goals against average).
The Knights will continue to rely on leadership from Alex Tuch and William Karlsson. Tuch (32 points) has tallied 14 goals and 18 assists and has recorded multiple points on nine separate occasions this year. Karlsson has 15 goals and 15 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 22 games.
On the visiting bench, New Jersey is 16-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 40 regular season matches, 23 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. As a road team, New Jersey is 5-16 SU so far.
New Jersey has converted on 19.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully killed off 85.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
New Jersey’s players have been penalized 4.0 times per game in total this season, 4.0 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.4 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Keith Kinkaid (.900 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey. Kinkaid is averaging 25.3 saves per game and owns a 13-17-6 record.
For the visiting Devils, the offense will be facilitated by Taylor Hall (11 goals, 26 assists) and Kyle Palmieri (20 goals, 16 assists).
New Jersey Devils vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two clubs that fire the puck toward the goal a lot, New Jersey has taken the league’s sixth-most shots on goal (33.0) while Vegas’s attempted the sixth-most (33.2).
- Penalties and power plays could prove to be even more key than usual in this game. The Devils are 7-7 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 9-18 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Golden Knights are 11-6 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 20-14 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- New Jersey is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 1-1 in shootouts.
- One of the top teams at creating pressure on their opponents, Vegas is ranked 2nd in the league this season with 10.6 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it has averaged 11.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 11.4 takeaways over its last five.
- New Jersey has averaged 8.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 8.2 takeaways per game (ranked 13th overall).
- Vegas could hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 10-8 in games decided by one goal, while New Jersey is only 4-11 in such games.
