NHL Western Conference Finals Game 1 Odds and Picks: Las Vegas vs. Winnipeg

  • In Ross Benjamin
  • Fri, May 11th, 2018 4:08:02 pm
  • By Ross Benjamin


Respected professional sports handicapper Ross Benjamin provides us with an informative betting preview pertaining to Saturday’s NHL Western Conference Finals series opener between Las Vegas and Winnipeg.

The Las Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets are set to begin their Western Conference series on Saturday. The opening faceoff is slated for 7:05 PM ET at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

The current (5/11) NHL betting odds at BetOnline indicates that Winnipeg is a money line favorite of -140 and there’s a posted total of 6.0.

These teams met 3 times during regular season action with Las Vegas winning on 2 of those occasions while 2 games went over the total.

 

Vegas Knights playoff pickProbable Starting Goaltenders

Unless something unforeseen occurs, Marc-Andre Fleury will be in goal on Saturday for Las Vegas. Fleury has gone 8-2 in 10 starts during these 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs while posting a sensational .951 save percentage. The former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender is 17-8 in 25 road starts this season and had a stellar .937 save percentage while doing so.

It would be hard to imagine anyone besides Connor Hellebuyck being in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck is 8-4 in 12 starts this postseason while compiling a more than respectable .927 save percentage. He was especially effective in his last 4 starts during Winnipeg’s Western Conference Semifinal series win over San Jose in collecting a shiny .940 save percentage. On a negative note, Hellebuyck started all 3 regular season games against Las Vegas and posted an extremely poor .856 save percentage.

 

Home/Away Splits

Las Vegas has gone a solid 26-20 against the money line during road games this season, and that includes a sparkling 5-1 in these 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Winnipeg has been lights out at home this season in going 36-11 versus the money line. It must be noted, Winnipeg won it first 4 home playoff games before dropping their last 2 against Nashville at the MTS Centre.

 

Pertinent Team Betting Trends

Las Vegas will be facing a Winnipeg team which has averaged outscoring their opponents by 0.8 goals per game. Nonetheless, the Golden Knights are a terrific 9-1 when facing teams that are outscoring its opponents by 0.5 or more goals per game.

The last time these teams met it resulted in Las Vegas coming away with a 3-2 win at Winnipeg. Nevertheless, Winnipeg has gone a superb 26-4 during this 2017-2018 NHL campaign when playing with same season revenge.

 

Winnipeg Jets NHL oddsNHL Money Line Betting Angle

Las Vegas eliminated San Jose with a 3-0 win in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Saturday will be just the Golden Knights 3rd game in 14 days. However, the betting angle illustrated below proves that wagering on well rested NHL teams coming off a road win in their previous game has produced mostly losing results since the 2014-2015 season began.

Any NHL team (Winnipeg) facing an opponent coming off a road win by 2 goals or more, and they (Las Vegas) will be playing in the 3rd game or less during the past 10 games, resulted in those teams going 58-29 (66.7%) during the last 5 seasons.

Pick: Winnipeg -140

 

NHL Totals Betting Angle

As I already alluded to, the Golden Knights previous game resulted in a 3-0 win at San Jose. That victory improved their season win percentage to .641. This precise data sets up a profitable betting angle which is applicable to Saturday’s Game 1 total.

Any team (Las Vegas) coming off a road shutout win and has a win percentage of .600 to .700, resulted in those games going 57-27 (67.9%) over the total during the last 5 seasons. This straightforward betting algorithm certainly can’t be disregarded when making your NHL picks.

Pick: Over 6.0 (-110)

Ross Benjamin Free Pick

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com


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