NHL betting preview (Nov. 29): Jets vs. Golden Knights odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Friday’s matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights.
Jets vs. Golden Knights Odds
- Winnipeg Jets Moneyline: -115
- Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline: -105
- Puck Line: Jets +1.5 (-250), Golden Knights -1.5 (+200)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -110, Under -110)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Jets vs. Golden Knights
Despite losing four of their last seven games, the Winnipeg Jets (18-5) remain four points ahead of Minnesota in the Central Division and 10 points clear of Dallas and Colorado, thanks to their strong 15-1 start to the season. However, it’s no coincidence that Winnipeg has stumbled more recently. The Jets are in the midst of a stretch where 11 of 13 games are played away from home, facing some of the top teams in the league. Friday will mark the fifth game on their current six-game road trip.
Friday also marks the first meeting of the season between Winnipeg and the Vegas Golden Knights (14-6-3), a matchup that may offer the Jets a chance to turn things around. Winnipeg has struggled against the Golden Knights in recent years. Excluding their 4-1 loss to Vegas in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, the Jets are 1-9 in their past 10 regular season meetings with the Golden Knights, dating back to the start of the 2022-23 season.
Vegas has won eight of its last 10 home games, but the Golden Knights have suffered back-to-back losses at home, falling 5-2 to the NHL’s top two offensive teams, Washington and Carolina. Given that Winnipeg ranks as the third-best offensive team in the league, behind only Washington and Carolina, it’s easy to see why the betting market favors the Jets in this matchup.
Winnipeg opened as a slight underdog, but now sits as a small moneyline favorite, and there are two main reasons for this. First, the Golden Knights are likely going to be without captain Mark Stone (6-15–21) who has missed the last 10 games due to a lower-body injury. Stone did not participate in the optional skate held earlier today. Secondly, but maybe more importantly, the Jets have a big edge in goal.
Cassidy confirms Mark Stone is still day-to-day. Says he's skating but nothing new until he joins the team in practice.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 29, 2024Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t had success against the Golden Knights recently, but he remains objectively the best goaltender in the league, while Adin Hill is closer to an average netminder. Over the past two seasons, Hellebuyck has posted the best goals saved above expected mark of any goaltender. While Winnipeg certainly deserves to be the favorite, I’m hesitant to back them as such against a team they haven’t proven they can consistently beat.
Best Bets for Jets vs. Golden Knights
- Over 6 Goals (-110)
As mentioned, only two teams have scored more goals than the Jets this season, but Vegas also ranks among the top five teams on offense and there’s a strong signal to the over here. Not only have seven of the last 10 meetings between these two teams gone over the total, but Vegas is 15-7-1 to the over this season, including 9-1 to the over at home. Both teams rank among the bottom half of the league in shot suppression, and top 10 in shot generation, so this projects to be a high-event game.