NHL: Vegas Golden Knights vs New Jersey Devils Betting Preview
The Golden Knights continue to overcome injuries, Devils falling fast
The Vega Golden Knights (27-14-5, 59 points) head back east to start a 4-game road trip starting with tonight’s NHL match-up with the New Jersey Devils (23-18-3, 49 points). VGK is seven points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the lead in the Pacific Division, while the Devils have played themselves out of a playoff spot with just two wins in their last seven games (2-4-1).
Hockey Odds were opened as New Jersey -130 with a total of 6 (over -120). Bettors have dropped the opening number to -125. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT. We start our Knights vs Devils preview, starting with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Golden Knights vs Devils 
Day/Time:
Location: Prudential, Newark, NJ
Streaming: Watch Live Sports
Vegas Continues To Bend But Not Break
As this is being written, the Golden Knights are going through their morning skate, missing six key NHL players who helped Vegas win a Stanley Cup. Instead of going away, the Golden Knights formed a small 3-game win streak and four of five, to stay within shouting distance of the Vancouver Canucks.
The never-say-die culture was set from day one and it showed its head again against the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday when the Knights went to work defensively until their offense could catch up. Vegas held the Penguins to 25 shots while erasing a 2-0 third-period deficit by scoring three times at T-Mobile Arena to steal a 3-2 victory.
It was the next man up for Vegs after Brendan Brisson scored his first NHL goal to give VGK the lead with 9:40 left, and the Knights suffocated Pittsburgh from there. For bettors, Vegas put themselves back in the black with +0.15 units won. The worry for the public should be the Knights on the road, where they’re 9-12 this NHL season (-5.16 units).
Going back East has always been tricky for Vegas outside of last year’s Cup season. Take out that 26-11 season against the Eastern Conference last year, VGK is just 77-78 (-20.56 units) since 2017.
Only six other NHL teams have lost more money against the Eastern Conference. Historically, Vegas is 39-39 (-10.16 units) against the Metropolitan Division on the road. (excluding the 2022-23 season). We continue our Knights vs Devils preview by focusing on New Jersey.
Lindy Ruff On The Hot Seat?
When the New York Islanders fired Lane Lambert, our first thought was about the New Jersey Devils, who are two points behind the Islanders in the race for one of the division’s playoff spots or, more likely, a wild card invitation.
Does New Jersey stay with Ruff, or is there someone that can come in and light a fire underneath the underachieving Devils? We talked about which coach would be fired next week, but predicting the demise of the head coach is tricky unless you’re there for all of the interactions because relationships with players and front offices have so much more to do with whether a veteran like Ruff is let go.
Make no mistake, the Lambert firing has as much to do with his relationships in the organization as wins and losses. The Devil still has a lethal power play with a success rate of 26.9% (5th), but New Jersey fails to apply constant pressure on opposing goaltenders, and much of that has been because of their NHL injuries in January, where five players added to the losses of Dougie Hamilton and Tomas Nosek in December.
The Devils have lost 5.09 units for bettors this season but are 21-13 as a favorite but just 9-11 as a home favorite. With both teams battling injuries, the results will be one of the most interesting NHL scores on the card.
The Money Says Devils
Early betting patterns show the betting public putting 63% of the cash on the Devils to go with 69% of the tickets. We suggest waiting until game time to get your cash on this tilt until betting trends start to even out. If we want you to wait, that must mean we’re going to wager on the Knights and the plus money.
We like how the Knights‘ depth has banded together to put duct tape on what could have been a sinking ship. We think Brice Cassidy still has no problem sticking to his rotations. Logan Thompson is still one of the better netminders in the league. We conclude our Knights vs Devils preview by suggesting that Vegas and the plus money is the side. All the best with your NHL picks and Parlays.
For NHL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
