Two hot teams meet in Vegas tonight, as the Golden Knights host the New Jersey Devils as slight -105 home underdogs. Both teams enter 7-3 SU over their last 10 and have made additions before the trade deadline.
Armed with a new linemate and seemingly over his injury issues, can Jack Eichel carry over his offensive success tonight vs. a Devils team that had some suspect goaltending in Colorado?
Find out my best bet for the Devils vs. Golden Knights in my NHL picks.
Devils vs Golden Knights best odds
Devils vs Golden Knights picks and predictions
Jack Eichel hasn’t had the best season. He’s dealt with injuries and some cold stretches, but he might be playing his best hockey entering tonight.
He had two goals vs. the Canes on Wednesday and has seven goals and 11 points over his last nine games. He’s also shooting a lot more of late, averaging 4.3 shots per game over his last 11 contests compared to just 2.9 in his 10 games prior to that after returning from injury.
In his most recent 11 games, he’s collected four shots on goal six times but has never been held to fewer than three. His shots-on-goal floor is very safe and might be improving.
Eichel has acquired a new linemate in Ivan Barbashev. In the two games with his new winger, he’s amassed eight shots and a goal. More importantly, he is getting plenty of shot attempts as he had seven on Wednesday and another six in Barbashev’s first game before that.
The Devils aren’t the easiest matchup for shots but Eichel had two goals, three shots, and seven attempts Wednesday vs. the best shot-suppressing team in hockey in Carolina.
At +112 to record four shots tonight in a game that should see a neutral game script, even a modest projection of 3.5 shots is returning value at those plus-money odds.
My best bet: Jack Eichel Over 3.5 shots (+112)
Looking to do some NHL betting? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet of up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2023.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Devils vs Golden Knights moneyline analysis
Two of the hottest teams will meet in Sin City tonight but the books are favoring the visiting Devils who, at -115, would be a -140 favorite on neutral ice. The Devils are coming off a 7-5 track meet vs. the Avalanche on Wednesday, which saw starting goalie Vitek Vanecek get pulled after allowing five goals on 19 shots.
The win was the Devils’ third in a row but it also came against rookie goalie Justus Annunen and came on the heels of an easy victory over the Flyers. They’ll enter tonight with prized trade acquisition Timo Meier questionable with an upper-body injury.
The recent New Jersey offensive output has been built on the back of poor goalies or opponents, and the question marks in net makes it a little tough to trust as a road favorite vs. a team that’s playing its best hockey of the season.
Vegas enters tonight 7-1-2 in its last 10 games and has a plus-1.30 goal differential per game over that stretch. The Knights upgraded their top line with the addition of Ivan Barbashev who got a primary assist on Jack Eichel’s go-ahead goal vs. the Hurricanes on Wednesday in a 3-2 win. This is a very strong top nine that can match up well vs. the deep lines of the Devils.
The Knights also picked up Jonathan Quick but Adin Hill has been rock solid in the absence of Logan Thompson, who is on the IR. Hill is 5-1 SU since February 1 with a 1.90 GAA and a .923 SV%. The move to add Quick was needed as even Laurent Brossoit is on the IR.
It’s tough to find any glaring holes in either team right now and with the lack of expected penalties, with two of the most disciplined teams in hockey, this game should be settled at 5-on-5. That favors the visitors, but I don’t see a 40-point difference between these two teams, which is what the moneyline is indicating.
I’m not betting on the side tonight but lean on the Knights at this price and wouldn’t be surprised if this one needs more than 60 minutes to be decided.
Devils vs Golden Knights Over/Under analysis
Neither team has been profitable to the Over but thanks to the recent output of the Devils, we’re seeing lots of money come in on the Over 6 as it has moved 10 points after opening at -120. If this total hits 6.5, I’d expect plenty of money on the Under and a quick move back to 6.
At home, Vegas sees an average of 5.67 total goals per game, which ranks in the Top-5 lowest-scoring home averages. The Knights take the fewest penalties in all of hockey and are also a decent 5-on-5 team, with the 10th-best goal differential at even strength. Vegas has seen a closing total of 6.5 in just eight of its last 25 games since Christmas.
The Devils have scored seven goals in back-to-back games but that also comes with a 0.785 SV% against. That’s an unsustainable number and with how well Hill has played of late, likely to the surprise of many, another five-plus goals is unlikely vs. a team that suppresses shots and allows the second-fewest high-danger shots in hockey.
High-scoring games and Vegas are not synonymous and I’m hitting this Under if it does touch 6.5.
Devils vs Golden Knights betting trend to know
The Golden Knights are 9-2 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600. Find more NHL betting trends for Devils vs Golden Knights.
Devils vs Golden Knights game info
| Location: | T-Mobile Arena, Vegas, NV |
| Date: | Friday, March 3, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ATTSN, MSGSN |
