Jonathan Marchessault Under 3 Shots on Goal
Vegas has an easy matchup today, heading to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks. Vegas has won five games in a row, but they still have both the Kings and Stars hot on their heels, challenging them for the one seed in the Western Conference. The air is thin atop the West, so a matchup against Chicago is the perfect spot to help them find some breathing room.
Going into this walkover, the Golden Knights should not rely heavily on their top line and, instead, look for production from alternative sources.
Marchessault is coming off a game where he put seven shots on goal, and he seldom has back-to-back games with such high volume. So in a game where they can take the pressure off the top guys, Marchessault should take it easy today. At worst, bettors are looking at a push on this one.
Reilly Smith Over 2 Shots on Goal
If the top line isn’t responsible for the production, it will have to come from somewhere else. The second line is an easy spot to look to. Smith can put anywhere from 0 to 4 pucks on net in a given night. However, trying to improve their place in the standings, this team will still be playing hard.
Given the level of talent on Chicago’s defense, two shots is not much to ask for. There are always ample opportunities to score when facing the Blackhawks, so Smith could achieve two by the end of the first period.
Brandon Slater Under 8 Points
Brandon Slater and the Villanova Wildcats had a few hot games and looked reminiscent of the Cats we saw last season. However, after a meeting with ranked Providence, they have come back down to earth. Today, they have another tough battle with a ranked opponent in Xavier.
When Villanova took on Xavier in January, they lost 88-80, and Slater had eight points.
Slater’s number have been hard to predict, as he can score anywhere from 3 to 19 points, but in their losses, he typically has a lower total. Expecting another L today, bettors should not have high expectations for Slater in this one.
