Vegas Golden Knights vs Florida Panthers Prediction, 12/23/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vegas Golden Knights vs Florida Panthers

Date: Saturday, December 23, 2023

Location: FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, FL

TV: Bally Sports Florida

Odds/Point Spread: Golden Knights (+123) Panthers (-150)

The Florida Panthers (18-12-2) are welcoming the Vegas Golden Knights (21-8-5) at FLA Live Arena on Saturday. The odds on this game have the Golden Knights at +123 and the Panthers are priced at -150. The total comes in at 7.

The Vegas Golden Knights will need a bounce back game after taking a 5-4 defeat against the Lightning in their last outing. Vegas accrued 18 mins in the box for this matchup. The Golden Knights had a good offensive performance and it was apparent in the defeat. Additionally, they had 4 opportunities with more players on the ice and were able to score 1 goal. In the outing, they scored on 4 of the 34 shots they put on net.

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Regarding their scoring, the Vegas Golden Knights have accounted for 116 goals (3rd in the NHL) on the year and have conceded 91. For the season, they have recorded 47 points and their points percentage is sitting at .691. Vegas comes into tonight with 127 power play chances and they have scored 29 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 22.83%. While playing at even strength, the Golden Knights have allowed the opponent to score 73 goals while scoring 87 when they are on offense. Vegas has tried 1,107 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.5%. The Golden Knights have seen 1,010 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .910. Vegas Golden Knights opponents have earned 99 power play opportunities (20th in the NHL) and have scored 18 goals in those attempts.

The player between the pipes for this game is Logan Thompson. Over the course of his pro career, Thompson has earned 40 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .571. He has a save percentage of .912 for his 4,361 mins played. Thompson has had 2,216 shots against him and has accrued 2,022 total saves. The opposition has scored 194 goals versus Thompson in his pro hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 2.67. He has compiled a mark of 41-23-9 and he has gotten the start in 70 games. Thompson has taken the ice for 76 contests over the course of his hockey career.

In their last contest, Florida played the Blues in an outing where the Panthers ended up taking the loss by a score of 4-1. The Panthers earned 1 goal of the 38 shots on goal they tried. They had 1 opportunity on the power play in this contest but weren't able to score a goal.

Florida has tried 1,089 shots (3rd in professional hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 8.45%, while allowing the opposition 868 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 82.52% on the other teams 103 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 90.3%. They have earned 100 chances on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 18.00%. The Panthers have earned 74 goals at even strength and 18 goals (22nd in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have allowed 84 goals to be scored by way of 66 goals at even strength and 18 goals while they were shorthanded. On the year, the Florida Panthers have earned a total of 92 goals, 38 points, as well as a points percentage of .594.

Across the ice you will find Sergei Bobrovsky in the crease. Bobrovsky is sitting with a lifetime record of 374-216-52 and has played in 666 contests. Bobrovsky's percentage of quality starts is 57.1% and he has 371 quality starts in his professional career. He has racked up 17,823 saves out of 19,485 shots attempted, which gives him a percentage of .915. The opposition is averaging 2.60 goals/game and he has allowed 1,662 goals overall. He has started in 650 games and has racked up 38,316 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Florida (-150)

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