The Vegas Golden Knights (14-6-8) and New York Islanders (16-11-3) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, N.Y. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-135o / +114u). The Golden Knights are a -142 favorite to win outright, while the Islanders are +120 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Golden Knights vs. Islanders predictions and NHL picks.
Golden Knights vs. Islanders Odds, Pick
| Golden Knights Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +180 | 5.5 -135o / +114u | -142 |
| Islanders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -218 | 5.5 -135o / +114u | +120 |
- Golden Knights vs. Islanders Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 (+180), Islanders +1.5 (-218)
- Golden Knights vs. Islanders Over/Under: 5.5 (-135o / +114u)
- Golden Knights vs. Islanders Moneyline: Golden Knights -142, Islanders +120
Golden Knights vs. Islanders Preview
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas enters this matchup in great form, having won each of its past four games. This trend is the product of multiple variables, most notably the Knights’ dominant two-way play.
They are generating high-danger scoring chances at a high rate, ranking eighth in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60). Vegas is also suppressing high-danger scoring chances at an even higher rate on the other end of the ice, ranking second in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
Goaltender Akira Schmid has benefited from this elite defensive play. Slated to guard the cage Tuesday, Schmid enters this matchup with a 10-2-4 record, a .903 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average.
He is coming off a particularly impressive 24-save shutout against the New Jersey Devils, a game the Knights won 3-0.
New York Islanders
Schmid’s success is likely to continue against New York, a team he is 2-0-1 against over the past three meetings.
Furthermore, the Islanders trail the Knights in each of the three main analytical categories: xGF/60, xGA/60 and expected goal share.
New York also trails Vegas in the majority of traditional statistics, including shots on goal per game, shots allowed per game, power play percentage, shooting percentage and faceoff percentage.
There are only two reasons the Islanders are not bigger underdogs in this matchup: home ice and goaltending. That said, the Knights have a higher win percentage on the road than New York does at home.
That just leaves goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who is slated to patrol the crease for the Islanders.
Golden Knights vs. Islanders Prediction
Sorokin is undoubtedly the biggest edge New York has in this matchup, and the team will need to rely on him to pull off this upset. However, his performance in net is unlikely to offset all the other aforementioned advantages for Vegas.
The Islanders are also banged up, as the following skaters are all either questionable or ruled out for this contest: Jonathan Drouin, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri and Alexander Romanov.
Pick: Golden Knights moneyline (-140 | Play to -145)
