Vegas Golden Knights vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 12/16/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vegas Golden Knights vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Thursday, December 16, 2021

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: MSG+

Mackenzie Blackwood and the New Jersey Devils (10-12-5) host the Vegas Golden Knights (17-11-0) at Prudential Center on Thursday.

The Vegas Golden Knights will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 4-1 victory over the Bruins the last time they stepped on the ice. Vegas accrued 2 minutes in the box in this game. They also had 1 chance on the power play and scored 1 goal. The Golden Knights had a good offensive outing in the win. For the outing, they earned a goal on 4 out of the 25 shots they put on goal.

The Golden Knights have had 886 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .903. When at even strength, the Golden Knights have conceded 69 goals while getting 86 as an offensive unit. Vegas Golden Knights opponents have totaled 81 power play tries (17th in pro hockey) and have tallied 17 goals in those chances. For the current campaign, the have a total of 34 points and their points percentage is sitting at .607. Vegas has taken 937 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.5%. When it comes to their goal scoring prowess, the Vegas Golden Knights have earned 98 goals (6th in the league) for the season and have given up 86. Vegas is sitting with 70 power play opportunities and they have added 12 goals out of those tries, garnering them a percentage of 17.14%.

The player between the pipes for this game is Robin Lehner. Lehner has been involved in 342 contests during his NHL career. He has amassed a mark of 141-133-47 and he has started in 323 games. The opposition has scored 873 goals versus Lehner in his pro career and his goals against rate is 2.71. Lehner has seen 10,523 shot attempts against him and has amassed 9,650 saves. He has a save percentage of .917 in his 19,295 mins played. For his career, Lehner has 181 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .560.

When they took the ice last, New Jersey faced the Flyers in a game where the Devils were on the wrong end of the score by a score of 6-1. They had 4 chances on the power play in this game but didn't score a goal. The Devils recorded 1 goal out of the 27 shots on goal they pursued.

On the campaign, the New Jersey Devils have earned a total of 74 goals, 25 points, and a points percentage of .463. They have permitted 88 goals to be scored by of a combination of 71 goals at even strength and 17 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Devils are sitting with 65 goals at even strength and 9 goals (31st in hockey) while on the power play. They have earned 75 power play chances and they have a power play percentage of 12.00%. New Jersey has put up 854 shots (18th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 8.67%, while allowing the opposition 839 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 79.52% on their opponents 83 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.5%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Mackenzie Blackwood protecting the net. His opposition is averaging 2.86 goals per game and he has relinquished 326 goals in total. Blackwood's rate of quality starts is 53.1% and he has qualified for 60 quality starting assignments in his career. He has started in 113 contests and his ice time sits at 6,839 mins. Blackwood has compiled a lifetime record of 51-46-15 and has participated in 120 games. He has accrued 3,304 saves out of 3,630 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .910.

Who will win tonight's hockey game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take New Jersey

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