Flyers vs Golden Knights Picks and Prediction – 1/3/2025

The Philadelphia Flyers (17-17-4) take on the Vegas Golden Knights (25-9-3) in a non-conference battle. Philadelphia is coming off a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, while Vegas shut out Calgary 3-0 in its last outing. Both teams look to start the year strong. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

The Flyers have been inconsistent, splitting wins and losses in the last five games. Travis Konecny leads the attack with 42 points, including 17 goals and 25 assists. Philadelphia averages 3.05 goals per game but struggles on the power play, converting just 15.2%. Samuel Ersson has a 3.02 GAA and a .884 save percentage, while backups Ivan Fedotov and Alexei Kolosov have provided mixed results. Injuries to Sean Couturier and Jamie Drysdale hurt depth, particularly on defense.

Defensively, Philadelphia allows 3.53 goals per game and has a below-average 78.1% penalty kill. They’ve limited shots against (27.1 per game), but goaltending inconsistency remains a concern. With Ersson listed as day-to-day, the Flyers will need backups to step up to handle Vegas' offensive pressure.

The Golden Knights enter with five straight wins, including dominant performances against Calgary and Seattle. Jack Eichel leads the team with 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists), while Ivan Barbashev has added 15 goals. Vegas averages 3.51 goals per game and thrives on the power play, converting 25%. Generating 30.5 shots per game keeps opposing defenses under pressure.

Vegas has been defensively sound, allowing just 2.73 goals per game. Adin Hill boasts a 2.65 GAA and .902 save percentage, with Ilya Samsonov providing additional stability. The 81% penalty kill and disciplined play (205 penalty minutes) stand out. Despite injuries to Ivan Barbashev (questionable) and William Karlsson, Vegas’ depth makes them tough to beat.

Vegas’ offensive firepower, strong goaltending, and special teams edge give them the upper hand. Philadelphia’s defensive issues and injuries make them vulnerable against a Vegas squad that thrives at home (15-4-0). Expect the Golden Knights to control play and capitalize on power plays. Final Score Prediction: Vegas Golden Knights win 4-2.