On Thursday evening, the Vegas Golden Knights (1-1) will visit the Minnesota Wild (1-1) at Xcel Energy Center for the third game of their Western Conference playoff series.
The Wild evened the series with a 5-2 win in Las Vegas on Tuesday, seeking their first playoff series victory since 2015. The Golden Knights previously swept the regular-season series, winning all three matchups.
After winning Game 1, Vegas fell short in Game 2, with Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl scoring in the loss. Goalie Adin Hill allowed four goals on just 16 shots.
Before we get to our picks, you should check out our NHL Betting page, which answers any questions you may have about it.
The Golden Knights finished the regular season strong, winning four of their last six games, including a 4-1 victory against the Canucks.
They posted a 21-13-7 road record, excelling away from home with six wins in their last eight games. Vegas also has a solid defense, ranking third in average goals allowed per game.
On Tuesday, the Wild tied the series with a 5-2 road victory over the Golden Knights. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and provided an assist, while Matt Boldy added a goal and an assist.
Goalie Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves to secure the win as Minnesota built a 3-0 lead in the first period.
The Wild finished the season strong, winning four of their last five games, including a 3-2 overtime win against Anaheim.
Despite losing their top two centers, Eriksson and Kaprizov, to injuries, Minnesota’s defense has excelled, allowing two goals or fewer in three of their last five regular-season games.
Gustavsson only allowed more than three goals once in his last four games. Though the Wild’s offense struggled late in the season, they broke out on Tuesday. They ended the regular season with a 22-17-2 record at home.
Before this series, the Golden Knights had dominated the matchups, winning five in a row, including a 5-1 victory in their last game at Xcel Energy Center.
Game 2 feels more like an aberration than the Wild figuring out how to beat the Golden Knights. It was the first win over Vegas all season.
I’ll take the Golden Knights to get back on track and win this one, giving them a 2-1 series lead.
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Vegas has scored more than three goals against Minnesota goalies in four of their last five meetings. Goalie Adin Hill secured three wins in his final four road starts to close the regular season.
The Golden Knights are ranked fifth in the NHL with an average of 3.34 goals per game, giving them the offensive advantage over Minnesota.
They also excelled on the road this season, winning 51.2% of their games and covering the spread in 47 of 81 outings. In their only playoff series, the Wild lost to the Golden Knights in seven games during the 2020-21 season.
All three regular-season matchups this year went under the goal total, with Minnesota scoring no more than two goals in six of their last seven games against Vegas. Hill limited the Wild to one goal in two starts this season and two goals in the first game of the series.
With the Wild ranking 25th in goals scored per game at 2.74, their chances for high-scoring games are low. Meanwhile, Vegas boasts a strong defense, allowing just 2.61 goals per game.
Expect a lower-scoring affair on Thursday in Las Vegas. The Under is the play in this one, under 5.5 goals at even money at BetUS is the best bet.
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About the Author
Tony is a pro sports journalist who dedicates most of his free time to watching the latest matches and games on TV. Tony enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and basketball when he's not participating in sports-related activities or seeing his friends. In addition to being a sports expert, Tony has extensive knowledge of finances and accounting. He leverages this expertise to provide insightful betting analysis for all sports, identifying value based on overlooked factors.
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