T-Mobile Arena is playing host a divisional showdown as the first-year franchise Vegas Golden Knights take on the Vancouver Canucks. The matchup gets started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 23, and you can catch the game live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-260) is currently the favorite over Vancouver (+220), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
Earning moneyline bettors 21.6 units, the Golden Knights are 40-20 straight up (SU) overall this year. Through 60 regular season matches, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 23-7 SU at home this season.
Vegas has connected on 21.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Vegas has been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.5 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
With a .930 save percentage and 28.1 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (20-9-2) has been the best option in goal for the Golden Knights this season. If they, however, choose to give him a breather, head coach Gerard Gallant may turn to Malcolm Subban (12-4-4 record, .912 save percentage, 2.59 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron will each be focal points for the Golden Knights. Marchessault (59 points) has produced 21 goals and 38 assists and has recorded two or more points on 18 separate occasions this year. Perron has 14 goals and 41 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 37 contests.
Vancouver is 23-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 60 regular season outings, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and none have pushed. Vancouver’s 12-18 SU as the visiting team this season.
Vancouver has converted on 21.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s skaters have been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (2.78 goals against average and .908 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 26.3 saves per game and has 16 wins, 27 losses, and five OT losses to his credit.
Brock Boeser (27 goals, 23 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone over in three of Vegas’ last five outings.
- Penalties and power plays could have a critical role in this one. The Canucks are 9-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 14-26 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Golden Knights are 15-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 29-14 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Vancouver is 0-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-2 in shootouts.
- Vegas skaters have managed 11.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 10.9 takeaways per game (ranked 3rd in the NHL).
- Vancouver skaters have created 9.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 6.2 takeaways per game (ranked 25th in the NHL
- Vegas might hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 16-10 in games decided by one goal, while Vancouver is 7-12 in such games.
