The Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets square off Tuesday at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. It’s the third and final regular-season meeting between these Western Conference combatants.
The Golden Knights are looking for the season sweep, but Vegas will have to do it without leading scorer Jack Eichel, who was placed on injured reserve Monday due to a lower-body injury.
Eichel joins defenders Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore on the shelf, and Zach Whitecloud was placed on long-term injured reserve after getting knocked out of Sunday’s game due to an LBI.
Will Vegas be able to withstand all of the line jockeying following the injuries, or will Winnipeg be able to avoid the season broom? Read our NHL picks and predictions for Golden Knights vs. Jets below to find out.
Golden Knights vs Jets best odds
Golden Knights vs Jets picks and predictions
The Vegas Golden Knights picked up a 5-2 win on October 20 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and it edged the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in overtime on October 30 in the rematch.
In that October 20 matchup, Eichel scored two goals, Pietrangelo had two assists, and Theodore had an apple, so VGK will have to make up for that. Eichel also scored the OT winner in the October 30 game, while assisting on the lone regulation goal, so he’ll obviously be missed.
Vegas is chomping at the bit to get back on the ice after a 3-1 setback at home against the Bruins last time out. It's just 4-5 across the past nine games overall, as well.
Winnipeg is also looking to get untracked, as the Jets were hammered by the visiting Capitals by a 5-2 score as the Over connected. The Jets have lit the lamp 38 times across the past nine games, or 4.2 goals per game to give Connor Hellebuyck more than enough support.
Hellenbuyck saw his personal six-start win streak get snapped by the Caps, he had allowed just eight goals in the previous five outings, too, so he probably was due for a stinker.
Hellebuyck has been a much better netminder at home than on the road, going 9-3-0 with a 1.59 goals against average and .949 save percentage with all three of his shutouts in front of the home fans. While he lost to the Knights in his lone appearance in Vegas on Oct. 30, he made 46 saves in the 2-1 OT setback.
With Hellebuyck in the blue ice, and the Golden Knights dealing with so many injuries, the Jets are a strong play at home, as they look to avoid the regular-season sweep.
My best bet: Jets moneyline (-130 at BetMGM)
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Golden Knights vs Jets moneyline analysis
The Golden Knights will have to lean upon their defense and goaltending a little more with less offensive punch on the ice.
Logan Thompson probably prays his team can get it to a shootout, as he has stopped 25 of 29 shots in his career, and if he had 11 more attempts, he could be second all-time behind Boston’s Linus Ullmark (.889 SV%).
The Golden Knights recalled Jonas Rondbjerg to replace Eichel among the forwards, while rearguards Kaedan Korczak and Brayden Pachal were recalled from Henderson of the AHL to help out on the road trip with the other injuries.
Vegas has won 13 of the past 16 games on the road dating back to last season while going 8-3 in the past 11 games against teams with a winning record. But those trends will all be put to the test with a handful of new and inexperienced faces seeing meaningful playing time in the ‘Peg.
The Jets come in hot, too, winning four of the past five games overall, and 14 of the past 18 games at home dating back to last season. Winnipeg is 22-7 in the past 29 against Western Conference teams, too, so they’re not going to feel very bad for the banged-up Golden Knights.
Golden Knights vs Jets Over/Under analysis
The Knights were getting good play out of Thompson early on, but he has been progressively worse as the season has gone on. He had a 1.69 GAA and .943 SV% in six starts in October while posting a 2.88 GAA and .909 SV% in 10 starts in November.
In December, Thompson is 1-3-0 with a 3.74 GAA and .903 SV% in four starts, while allowing 15 goals overall. The Over is 2-1-1 in his starts in the current month.
The Over has cashed in four of the past five games overall for the Jets, but it’s more because of the offense, and not the shaky defense.
While the Over has hit in four straight starts by Hellebuyck, he has allowed two goals apiece in three of the four outings, but the offense has racked up 34 goals of offensive support in his past seven outings.
The Over is also 5-2 in the past seven games against Western Conference teams while going 4-0 in the past four playing on a day of rest, too.
Golden Knights vs Jets betting trend to know
While the Golden Knights have won the first two meetings this season, the Jets are still 5-2 in the previous seven meetings, including a 4-0 mark in the past four home games against VGK. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs Jets.
Golden Knights vs Jets game info
| Location: | Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB |
| Date: | Tuesday, December 13, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TSN, SportsNet Rocky Mountain |
Golden Knights vs Jets key injuries
