The marquee matchup on the NHL slate Thursday is a potential Stanley Cup Final preview as the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Florida Panthers in their first meeting of this regular season.

As of this writing, Florida leads the Atlantic Division and the NHL with 63 points. Vegas leads the Pacific Division with 53 points and probably would have a lot more if the team wasn’t hammered earlier this season with injuries and COVID. The teams didn’t play last season with the unique divisional setup due to COVID.

Be sure to be on the lookout for updated NHL odds and lines out our online Bitcoin sportsbook before placing your bets.

Golden Knights vs. Panthers Game Information

Trip up North complete ?

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 26, 2022

• When: Thursday, January 27th, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Centre Bell, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• TV: BSFL, ATTSN-RM
• Radio: KKGK 98.9 FM (Golden Knights) // AM 560 Sports WQAM (Panthers)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: Florida Panthers (-1.5) / OU: 6.5

READ MORE: Wild vs. Rangers 2022 NHL Odds and Preview – January 28th, 2022

Why Bet on the Vegas Golden Knights?

The Knights are 1-1 on a very tough trip through the Eastern Conference following a 4-3 overtime loss at excellent Carolina on Tuesday in another potential Cup Final preview. The Canes blew a two-goal lead in the third period but Sebastian Aho’s second goal of the game 3:49 into overtime was the winner. Aho set the franchise record with his seventh career overtime goal and it was Aho’s second overtime winner this season.

Nicolas Hague struck with 2:30 left in regulation to force overtime for Vegas. It was Hague’s first point in two games since he returned from a wrist injury that cost him eight contests. The defenseman has 14 points and a plus-12 rating in 34 appearances. Nolan Patrick scored a goal and an assist for his first multi-point performance of the season.

Vegas is without two key forwards in Max Pacioretty and Reilly Smith. The latter entered COVID protocols on Monday. The 30-year-old has averaged 18:00 of ice time and tallied 29 points over 41 appearances this season. Pacioretty has missed 25 games this season due to injury, but he’s been highly productive when healthy, having racked up 12 goals and 21 points through 16 contests. It’s possible he returns from injury Thursday.

The Golden Knights went 0-for-3 on the power play, but did go 4-for-5 on the penalty kill, which is impressive considering the Hurricanes had the No. 5 power play in the league heading into the game.

It should be Robin Lehner in net. He pitched a 34-save shutout during Monday’s 1-0 win over the Washington Capitals. In his previous three starts he failed to crack a .900 save percentage. Lehner is now 17-11-1 on the year with a 2.85 GAA and .907 SV.

Only two Golden Knights players – second-year winger Keegan Kolesar, and veteran defenseman Brayden McNabb – have appeared every game this season. Everyone else has missed at least one game, and some of their best players have been sidelined for significant periods of time. The newest Golden Knight, former Buffalo Sabres star center Jack Eichel, has yet to skate in any games as he works his way back from injury.

Why Bet on the Florida Panthers?

Florida, which has just three home losses all season, was a 5-3 winner at Winnipeg on Tuesday. Mason Marchment had two goals and an assist – both goals coming in the first period. He became the 11th Panther player to produce at least three points in a game this season, the second-most of any NHL team.

Marchment also fired off a team-high six shots on goal. The 26-year-old has actually been productive this season but he has had limited playing time due to injury issues and COVID-19 protocols. He has set career-highs in goals (4), assists (10) and points (13) while averaging 12:56 of ice time per tilt.

Norris Trophy candidate Aaron Ekblad had assists on the go-ahead and put-away goals for the Panthers one on the way to picking up his 28th and 29th assists of the season. He has 39 points overall. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32-of-35 shots to improve 21-4-3 on the season. He should start Thursday.

Winning 11 of their last 14 games, the Panthers now sit at 29-9-5 on the season. They are 21-0-0 when leading after two periods this season.

“I think it’s showing we’re maturing as a group,” interim head coach Andrew Brunette said of that 21-0-0 mark. “We’re not perfect, but that’s a good step of really good teams that they’re able to do that once they get the lead.”

Golden Knights vs. Panthers Betting Trends

• Golden Knights are 7-1 in the last 8 road games.
• Golden Knights are 2-5 in the last 7 games as an underdog.
• The total went over in 4 of Vegas’ last 5 games.
• Panthers are 9-3 in the last 12 Thursday games.
• Panthers are 5-2 in the last 7 vs. Western Conference.
• The total went over in 11 of Florida’s last 14 games.

Golden Knights vs. Panthers Expert Betting Predictions

NHL Pick: Florida 4, Vegas 3

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.