The NHL season is now at the midway point, with the All-Star participants named earlier this week. There is still a lot of hockey to be played before we get to the break, though, with the division and playoff races now really starting to heat up. One of the tightest divisional races right now can be found in the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, where just 3 points separate first from third. It is the surprising Calgary Flames who are leading the way, but they are being chased down by last year’s division winner, and Stanley Cup finalist, the Vegas Golden Knights. It was a very slow start to the season for Vegas, but they are now starting to heat up and get on a very positive run of form.
Friday night will see them hit the road to face their division rivals, the Anaheim Ducks, a team that is heading in the opposite direction right now. This is a match-up that has been dominated by the Golden Knights during their short time in the league, which is why they are the NHL Betting favorites for this one.
Golden Knights at Ducks NHL Betting Odds & Game Info
🎥 Gallant: Right now we’re a good hockey team. You always want guys who are hungry to play. pic.twitter.com/rNBsKqSXcG
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) 3 de enero de 2019
- When: Friday, January 4 at 10 PM EST
- Where: Honda Center, Anaheim
- TV: NHL Network
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Odds: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (Total 5.5)
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Team Records
- All: Golden Knights 24-15-4 / Ducks 19-15-7
- Home: Golden Knights 13-3-3 / Ducks 10-4-7
- Away: Golden Knights 11-12-1 / Ducks 9-11
- ATS: Golden Knights 19-24 / Ducks 18-23
- Over/Under: Golden Knights 20-21-2 / Ducks 14-25-2
Why bet on the Vegas Golden Knights?
After winning 4 games in a row, Vegas is now up into the second spot in the Pacific Division, just two points back of the Flames. They have gone 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, although they are a team that probably needs to get a little more consistent on the road, where they are currently 11-12-1.
As mentioned earlier, the Golden Knights have dominated previous meetings with the Ducks, winning 5 of the 6 games that they have played against them in their first two seasons. That record includes both meetings with the Ducks this season, a pair of games where Vegas outscored Anaheim by a combined score of 8-1. A win here would not only give them a share of the division lead, but it would also give them a share of the best record in the West.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.02
- Shots: 33.00
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.61
- Goals: 2.67
- Shots: 28.40
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.54
Why bet on the Anaheim Ducks?
The Ducks are on a run that has seen them lose 6 games in a row, although with two of those defeats coming outside of regular time, they did manage to pick up 2 points in that time. Still, that run has seen them drop down to 4th in the Pacific Division, now 9 points off the pace being set by the Calgary Flames. It has been the same old story for the Ducks as we have seen in recent seasons, which is that they do not score a lot of goals.
The Ducks have scored just 102 goals, which has the 3rd worst in the Western Conference on the offensive side of the ice. The Ducks have been decent at home, going 10-4-7 there thus far, but they are going to need to open things up a little to get the win here.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.49
- Shots: 27.68
- PP/PK Percentage: 14.78
- Goals: 2.93
- Shots: 34.66
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.00
Golden Knights vs Ducks NHL Betting Trends
- Vegas is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Anaheim
- Vegas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Anaheim
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vegas’s last 5 games when playing Anaheim
- Anaheim is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
- Anaheim is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Anaheim’s last 6 games
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction for Golden Knights vs Ducks
Given how things have gone with these two in the past, it’s tough to see Vegas dropping this one given the run of form that both teams are experiencing. I like Vegas to win this one quite comfortably.
Score: Vegas Golden Knights 4 – Anaheim Ducks 1
