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Game Preview: Vegas Golden Knights @ New Jersey Devils
The Vegas Golden Knights head to Prudential Center to take on the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. This inter-conference matchup features two teams with postseason aspirations, but very different current trajectories. Vegas enters with championship pedigree and defensive discipline, while New Jersey is built for speed and scoring volume.
This contest will highlight strengths versus strengths. Vegas relies on structure and shot suppression, while New Jersey aims to tilt the ice with pace and aggressive transition play. For bettors, the matchup offers insights into totals, puck line dynamics, and live betting angles.
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Odds and Key Information
The puck drops at 7:30 PM ET from Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Vegas opened as slight road favorites at -115, with New Jersey at -105 on the moneyline. The puck line lists Vegas -1.5 (+180) and New Jersey +1.5 (-200). The total opened at 6.5 goals with -110 odds on both sides.
Check current lines on the NHL odds page.
Vegas Golden Knights Outlook
The Golden Knights have consistently been one of the most disciplined defensive teams in the NHL. With a record of 17-9-4, they’re entrenched near the top of the Western Conference and remain among the top five in goals allowed per game.
Logan Thompson and Adin Hill continue to anchor a goaltending tandem that ranks top-three in team save percentage. Mark Stone and Jack Eichel power the offense, which has taken a balanced approach. Vegas doesn’t rely on any single line but rolls all four units effectively.
The penalty kill has been strong all season, while the power play ranks middle of the pack. For division-wide analysis, visit our Pacific Division odds and predictions blog.
New Jersey Devils Outlook
The Devils are 14-13-2 and sit in the middle tier of the Metropolitan Division standings. They’ve shown flashes of elite offense, led by Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, but have been wildly inconsistent defensively. Their goals-against average has hovered near 3.5, one of the highest among playoff contenders.
Goaltending has been a rotating issue, with neither Vitek Vanecek nor Akira Schmid providing long-term stability. New Jersey leans heavily on its top six to outscore problems, but it leaves them vulnerable against teams with better systems—like Vegas.
For division breakdowns, visit the Metropolitan Division preview.
Key Matchup
Vegas’s defensive structure against New Jersey’s top line speed will be the critical dynamic. If the Golden Knights can contain Hughes’ zone entries and limit transition plays, they’ll control the tempo. However, if New Jersey draws early penalties and gets its power play working, the Devils could create momentum.
Get deeper strategy insights in our expert NHL betting guide.
Betting Trends
Vegas is 6-2 in its last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents and has gone under the total in five of those matchups. New Jersey is 4-6 in its last 10 games and has hit the over in 7 of those contests, largely due to defensive lapses.
View broader totals and spread insights in the concise hockey betting guide.
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Projected Score and Final Picks
Projected Score: Vegas 4, New Jersey 2
Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights ML (-115)
Total Lean: Under 6.5
Why You Need Expert Picks
This matchup presents a classic trap: a flashy home team versus a consistent but less explosive visitor. That’s where expert betting models make the difference.
The Handicappers Leaderboard shows NHL cappers who are leading in ROI and unit wins this month. Their picks use injury news, matchup-specific analytics, and advanced metrics to give you an edge.
To improve your approach, explore key resources like what is a moneyline, betting units, and our full sports betting for beginners guide.
