New Jersey Devils vs. Vegas Golden Knights Prediction & Best Bets (December 17th, 2025)
The New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights will be our NHL nightcap on Wednesday night, with the Vegas Golden Knights coming in as -192 home favorites.
Vegas is holding onto first place in the Pacific Division, but will want to win here to maintain a solid home record and continue to stave off the Anaheim Ducks. New Jersey, meanwhile, hopes to climb the ladder in the competitive Metropolitan Division, where they have 18 wins, but still settle into 6th place.
This one looks like an interesting matchup on paper, as the Devils are respectable (8-8) on the road and bring a competent offense to the table, but they definitely lose the defensive battle when compared to Vegas.
So, which side will win, and what are the best Devils vs. Golden Knights picks to target? I’ll break it all down en route to my final New Jersey vs. Vegas prediction.
Game Info
- Matchup: New Jersey Devils (18-14-1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (16-6-9)
- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, at 9:00 pm (10:00 pm ET)
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV
- How to Watch: HBO Max, TNT, and truTV
Betting Odds
Take a look at the latest Devils vs. Golden Knights odds for Thursday night, courtesy of FanDuel:
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Devils | +1.5 (-170) | +152 | Over 5.5 (-105) |
Golden Knights | -1.5 (+138) | -184 | Under 5.5 (-115) |
Recent Form & Context
To get a better idea as to what to expect out of this matchup, let’s quickly break down how these teams have fared to this point.
New Jersey Devils
- The Devils can be reliant on power play situations, but they rank 17th in power play goals (18) and rank 11th in power play percentage.
- New Jersey takes advantage of power play, but they also rely on volume with 968 shots on the net (8th most).
- The Devils have a spread-out offensive attack, with four different players scoring at least 10 goals already this season.
Injuries
- RW Timo Meier has been on injured reserve due to a personal matter, and his status is unknown for this game.
- D Simon Nemec is on injured reserve and is not expected to suit up Wednesday night.
- RW Arseny Gritsyuk is dealing with an injury and will not play vs. the Golden Knights.
- D Brett Pesce has been banged up, but is expected to return for Wednesday’s game.
Vegas Golden Knights
- Vegas is an above-average scoring offense, putting up 3.06 goals per game.
- The Golden Knights are very good in power play situations, ranking 6th in power play goals (24) and 7th in power play percentage (24.7%).
- Vegas also ranks near the top of the NHL in Penalty Kill Percentage (11th) with 82.5%.
Injuries
- RW Pavel Dorofeyev is listed as day-to-day and will be questionable to suit up against New Jersey.
Matchup Breakdown
This is a classic offense vs. defense battle, except the New Jersey offense isn’t that good. It can be if they have strength in numbers and are running power play situations, but that is not a great bet to be the case against one of the better power play offenses in all of hockey.
Vegas is at home, they’re more balanced, they’re better defensively, and they’re better than the Devils at what they do best.
In addition, the Golden Knights are a bit more battle-tested with a slew of overtime battles, while they have a more explosive offense. Even if the game does stay close and it goes to OT, I again favor Vegas on their home ice.
I’d keep an eye on the status of Pavel Dorofeyev, however. The Golden Knights are healthier than their opponent, but he’d be a goal scorer they would definitely miss.
Playing Styles & Trends
- New Jersey: The Devils want to win with numbers in power play, and it’s something they’re good at. They also have solid balance, but if they’re not dominating in PP settings, scoring can be difficult for them.
- Vegas: The Golden Knights play a fast-paced brand of offense that leads up elite skill up front, but relies heavily on dominant power play.
- Special Teams: The Golden Knights are more balanced on offense and even better in power play efficiency, while their penalty kill percentage also leaves New Jersey in the dust.
- Defense: New Jersey ranks 18th in goals allowed per game, while Vegas ranks 11th. The Golden Knights and Devils are both in the bottom portion of the league in save rate, however.
Betting Market Notes
- Puck Line (1.5: -170/+138): Vegas can get you plus money if they win by two, but they’re not favored to do so. There’s value in their puck line since they’re at home and are the better overall squad, however.
- Moneyline (+152/-184): The Golden Knights are pushing -200 on their moneyline, so they are toeing the value line. New Jersey’s ML is attractive, but their suspect profile and spotty form (3-7 over their last 10) make them feel trappy.
- Total (5.5: -105/-115): The mediocre defense and the Golden Knights’ offense combine to make the Over stand out at plus money.
Props & Alternative Markets
- Anytime Goal Scorer: There are no odds at the moment for an anytime goal scorer, and no one skater who truly stands out. Both teams have several capable scorers, but this Devils vs. Golden Knicks prop bet isn’t my favorite.
- Total Goals (1st Period): This game prop also isn’t available yet, but it’s one I’d be willing to target. The game total is healthy, and the defenses aren’t scary, so someone scoring in the first period is a solid bet.
Best Bets for New Jersey vs. Vegas
Check out my preferred New Jersey vs. Vegas bets for tonight:
| Bet | Why Do We Like It? | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Vegas Golden Knights ML (-184) | Vegas is a solid 7-4-4- on their home ice, and New Jersey has been average on the road. They have the edge in this matchup on both offense and defense, and are also a lot healthier. | 7/10 |
Under 5.5 (-115) | Vegas has the advantage offensively, but their strength directly works against New Jersey’s. If they are the aggressor in PP, I don’t know if the Devils have the stand-alone offense to keep up. | 7/10 |
Prop Play – Vegas 1+ PP Goals Scored (-120) | The Golden Knights get an edge at home, but they are also the far more aggressive and efficient team in power-play settings. They rank 6th in PP goals, making them a solid bet to get one in this spot. | 7/10 |
Devils vs. Golden Knights odds can change fast — track every line move, compare puck lines and totals, and lock in the best value before puck drop at the top sports betting sites.
Risk Factors & What Could Go Wrong
New Jersey could always flip the script by dominating in power-play situations. That is where they are at their best, so if they can turn the tables and maintain an edge in numbers, they could thrive on offense and also keep Vegas from doing what they do best.
Another thing to note is the tendency for the Golden Knights to let games get away from them. They have nine OT losses, while New Jersey has just one. If Vegas is sloppy, the Devils can hang tight and stage the upset, perhaps in overtime.
New Jersey Devils vs. Vegas Golden Knights Prediction
Final Score Prediction: Vegas Golden Knights 3, New Jersey Devils 2
Vegas is the better team across the board. Provided they maintain their power play prowess, they should be able to curb New Jersey’s offense. Their 11th-ranked scoring defense factors into that logic as well.
The Golden Knights are also at home, with the only other big issue being their tendency to let games go to an extra period. If they can keep things tight on defense and dominate via power play, I think they’re the easy pick.
Additionally, whether the Golden Knights win or the Under fails, Vegas is a really good bet to score a goal via power play if they have the numbers on their side.
