Things could go from bad to worse for the Vegas Golden Knights tonight as they host the Florida Panthers while riding a five-game losing streak and clinging to the West’s last playoff spot. The books aren’t high on the home side either who enter tonight’s matchup as big +140 dogs.
Can the Golden Knights end this horrific skid with a win at home despite injuries stacking up and the offense drying up? Will the Panthers come in flying after getting Ben Chariot in a trade from Montreal and taking 13 of a possible 14 points over their last seven games? Find out in our free NHL betting picks and predictions for Panthers vs. Golden Knights.
Panthers vs Golden Knights odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
Florida has risen to -180 after opening as a -130 road favorite. The total sits at 6.5. The Panthers won 4-1 back in late January as -140 home favorites with a closing total of 7.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Panthers vs Golden Knights predictions
- Prediction: Panthers 3-way ML (+100)
- Prediction: Over 6.5 (-115)
- Best bet: Bennett Over 0.5 points (+108)
Predictions made on 3/17/2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Panthers vs Golden Knights game info
• Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
• Date: Thursday, March 17, 2022
• Puck drop: 10:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports, ATTSN-RM
Panthers vs Golden Knights betting preview
Key injuries
Panthers: Anton Lundell F (Questionable), Sergei Bobrovsky G (Questionable).
Golden Knights: Max Pacioretty F (Questionable), Robin Lehner G (Out), Rielly Smith F (Out), Brayden McNabb D (Out), Mark Stone F (Out), Ben Hutton D (Out), Brett Howden F (Out), Mattias Janmark F (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Panthers vs Golden Knights head-to-head record since 2017-18
Panthers: 3-4 SU, 23 goals for.
Golden Knights: 4-3 SU, 28 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Golden Knights are 0-6 SU in their last six games as a home underdog. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Golden Knights.
Panthers vs Golden Knights picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Moneyline analysis
The Vegas Golden Knights return home from an awful five-game road trip where they went 0-5 SU and faced some average competition. They were also outscored 23 to 11 during the trip and coming home doesn’t always mean things will bounce back. Vegas will be dealing with a time change as well as all things that come with being away from your home for over 10 days.
The Knights' biggest issues won’t be fixed before tonight’s puck drop as this is a lineup that is literally decimated with injuries to every aspect of their lineup. They currently have over $35 million on the IR, are swimming in quicksand, and could be in 10th place in the West at the end of the night.
Vegas lost five straight games to the Flyers, Sabres, Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Jets during the road trip — only one of those opponents currently occupies a playoff spot. Now they’ll have to dig deep and try and knock off a Florida team that has the most points in the Eastern Conference and leads the league in goals per game at 4.10 per contest.
The Panthers have taken an impressive 13 points over their last seven games with the only blemish being a 3-2 shootout loss to the Kings on Sunday where they led the game heading into the final minute. They are 21-6-2 since January 1, which is the second-best point percentage behind only the Avalanche, and could run up the score tonight if Laurent Brossoit suits up in net for the Knights.
Brossoit has had to play plenty over the last 80 days with Lehner missing time. Since January 1, Brossoit is 2-9 SU across 11 starts with a 3.23 GAA and .885 SV%. He was pulled in his last start versus the Jets and has allowed four goals in three of his last four starts. He is not confirmed and if he were to sit, the Knights would go with rookie Logan Thompson, who isn’t any better.
Sergei Bobrovsky will likely draw the start for the visitors. He missed his last start but should be ready to go tonight. He’s won four straight starts and should be able to handle a Las Vegas offense that ranks 28th in goals per game (2.46) since February 1.
Florida also has the advantage in special teams as the power play has 13 goals over its last 10 games and will face a Las Vegas PK that has surrendered a goal in four straight.
The Panthers do play tomorrow in Anaheim, but we think tomorrow will be a better spot to fade the Panthers if we had to choose. Florida can smell blood and Vegas is drowning in the West.
The Panthers are steaming but not enough to get us off the visitors. The Knights are stumbling and we have very little faith in them.
Prediction: Panthers 3-way ML (+100)
Over/Under analysis
Both teams have been very profitable to the Over on the season with a combined 68-48 O/U mark. The last meeting saw a closing total of 7 and featured Robin Lehner in net. Now, the Panthers’ No. 1 offense will get to stack points against either Brossoit or Thompson. This is a Florida team that knows it has the confidence from the front office after acquiring Ben Chariot and could be running and gunning after two games in California that saw them score just five goals.
Despite the lack of goals on the current road trip, Florida still leads the league in shots per game at 37.5 over the last three weeks. Right behind them, surprisingly, are the Knights at 37.1 shots per game. This game could feature a ton of pucks on the net and neither team is in the Top 12 in goals against per game.
Bobrovsky isn’t always a lock to shut down his opposition on the road. He has a 2.60 GAA away from home and a road save percentage 21 points shorter than his home mark. He’s allowed fewer than three goals just once over his last six starts.
This game could also see some special teams aid in the Over. The Panthers have five multi-PP goal games over their last eight contests. This is a power play led by Jonathan Huberdeau, who leads the league in assists and trails Connor McDavid for the league lead in points by one.
Over their last six games, the Knights have seen a total of 11 special-team goals scored as the PP is starting to wake up, while the PK has given up seven power-play goals over their last eight.
No team runs four offensive lines like the Panthers, who have scored more 5-on-5 goals than any other team. This is the best offense in hockey.
With the last total closing at 7, we’re inclined to hit the Over here, but it might just be a lean as we aren’t sold on the Knights’ offense at this point.
Prediction: Over 6.5 (-115)
Best bet
Florida’s Sam Bennett has found himself centering the league leader in assists in Huberdeau. Bennett hasn’t recorded a point in four straight games but that ties a season-high as this is still a forward who leads the team in goals since January 1 and is averaging 4.1 shots on net over his last 10 games. Playing with Huberdeau and getting some power-play time should help him find the scoresheet against a struggling Vegas team that is thin on the blue line.
Getting a player who is riding shotgun to Huberdeau at plus money to get a single point is a great situation and price.
Pick: Bennett Over 0.5 points (+108)
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