Vegas Golden Knights at Florida Panthers odds, picks and predictions
The Vegas Golden Knights (21-8-5) take on the Florida Panthers (18-12-2) Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Golden Knightsvs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Golden Knights continue their trip through Florida after a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday. We cashed all 3 bets in that one! VGK has lost 2 in a row against tough opponents, and now the Knights shift their focus to a rematch of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. A big question in this one is if G Logan Thompson is able to return from an upper-body injury.
The Panthers fell 4-1 to the St. Louis Blues Thursday night. They had a good 1st period, outshooting the Blues 11-5, but they hit 3 posts in the game and seemed frustrated. St. Louis took advantage. The Cats have dropped 4 of 5 now. The road doesn’t get any easier as they have Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers after battling VGK.
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Golden Knights at Panthers odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.
Golden Knights at Panthers projected goalies
Logan Thompson (10-5-3, 2.71 GAA, .904 SV%) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (14-9-1, 2.52 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO)
Adin Hill went on IR so it’ll either be Thompson or Jiri Patera, who stopped 31 of 36 shots against Tampa Thursday, between the pipes. Thompson was pelted for 6 goals before he left Tuesday’s game against Carolina with the injury.
“Bob” stopped 20 of 23 against St. Louis Thursday. He really wasn’t terrible, but St. Louis’ top line of LW Jordan Kyrou, C Robert Thomas and RW Pavel Buchnevich used its speed and passing ability to light the lamp 3 times. Bobrovsky was 1-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .938 SV% in 2 regular season meetings against Vegas last year.
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Golden Knights at Panthers picks and predictions
Prediction
Panthers 5, Golden Knights 4
Outside of a 5-1 win against Edmonton, the Panthers have scored just 2 goals in 4 games. They got up for Edmonton, and they’ll get up for this one to exact revenge from the loss in the Finals. Vegas’ goalie situation, Florida being 9-5-0 at home and the lack of offensive production of late are all signs for me to go with PANTHERS -135.
I’m steering clear of the puck line because Vegas’ goaltending situation is too volatile. I think they keep it within a goal if Thompson is able to play. The price is too hefty, though.
PASS.
The Over is 5-5 in the last 10 meetings, which includes the playoffs. Florida has allowed 4 goals in 4 of 5, and Vegas’ games have had 9 goals in 3 straight.
We’re getting in late here, and I hate the price, but I am going OVER 6.5 (-120). Personally, I’d wait for the puck to drop and let the price come down a bit.
