Vegas Golden Knights vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 12/21/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vegas Golden Knights vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023

Location: Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Golden Knights (+118) Lightning (-143)

The Vegas Golden Knights (21-7-5) are hitting the road to Amalie Arena on Thursday where they will attempt to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning (15-13-5). The moneyline on this contest has the Golden Knights at +118 while the Lightning are coming in at -143. The betting total comes in at 7.

The Vegas Golden Knights had a rough game after their 6-3 defeat to the Hurricanes in their previous game. Vegas had 6 penalty minutes for this contest. The Golden Knights had an average offensive output in this defeat. In addition, they had 4 power play attempts but weren't able to make the most of them. For the game, they finished 3 of the 33 shots they launched.

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While playing at even strength, the Golden Knights have allowed the opponent to score 70 goals while getting 84 on the offensive side of the ice. Vegas Golden Knights opponents have tallied 95 power play tries (22nd in hockey) and have notched 16 goals in those attempts. In regard to their scoring, the Vegas Golden Knights have racked up 112 goals (3rd in the NHL) this season and have given up 86. Vegas has taken 1,073 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.4%. For the current season, they have tallied 47 points and their points percentage is sitting at .712. The Golden Knights have seen 974 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .912. Vegas comes into the game with 123 power play chances and they have notched 28 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 22.76%.

The player in the crease for this game is Logan Thompson. Opponents have notched 194 goals against Thompson in his pro career and his goals against average per contest is 2.67. Thompson has taken the ice for 76 games over the course of his professional hockey career. His save percentage sits at .912 for his 4,361 mins in the crease. He has accumulated a mark of 41-23-9 and he was named the starter in 70 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Thompson has accumulated 40 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .571. Thompson has seen 2,216 shot attempts taken against him and has accrued 2,022 total saves.

When they took the ice last, Tampa Bay opposed the Blues in an outing where the Lightning earned a victory by a mark of 6-1. The Lightning recorded 6 goals of the 33 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 power play chances in this one and recorded 1 out of those attempts.

Tampa Bay has attempted 1,007 shots (6th in hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 11.02%, while allowing their opponents 1,022 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 79.59% on their oppositions 98 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 88.7%. They have a total of 106 opportunities on the power play and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 30.19%. The Lightning have racked up 79 goals at even strength and 32 goals (1st in the NHL) while having a power play advantage. They have allowed 115 goals to be scored by of a combination of 95 goals at even strength and 20 goals while they were shorthanded. So far this year, the Tampa Bay Lightning are sitting with 111 goals, 35 points, as well as a points percentage of .530.

Across the rink you are likely to see Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal. Teams are averaging 2.53 goals per game and he has surrendered 1,081 goals altogether. Vasilevskiy's rate of quality starts sits at 57.0% and he has qualified for 243 quality starts in his career. He has been a starter 426 contests and has played 25,622 minutes. Vasilevskiy is sitting with a lifetime record of 269-128-28 and has played in 436 games. He has racked up 12,144 stops out of 13,225 shots taken against him, giving him a save % of .918.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Vegas (+118)

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