The Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10) look to leverage their dominant regular season as they host the Minnesota Wild (45-30-7) in Game One of the Western Conference playoffs at T-Mobile Arena.
With Vegas firing on all cylinders offensively (3.34 goals per game) and Minnesota struggling to score (2.74 goals per game) but backed by solid defense and the return of Kirill Kaprizov, this series opener pits the Pacific Division champions against a Wild Card team that stumbled down the stretch.
Oddsmakers have installed the Golden Knights as -145 favorites in what could be a clash between Vegas's balanced attack led by Jack Eichel and Mark Stone against Minnesota's defensive structure anchored by Filip Gustavsson's impressive .914 save percentage.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild matchup, our predictive model gives the Golden Knights a 74.33% chance of defeating the Wild.
Pre-game probabilities
Vegas Golden Knights
Moneyline
Win %
74.33%
25.67%
Minnesota Wild
Vegas Golden Knights: 74.33% win probability
- Superior point production (110 points in 82 games compared to Wild's 97 points)
- Strong offensive firepower (275 goals scored, ranking 7th in the Western Conference)
- Home ice advantage combined with 50 wins on the season (2nd in Western Conference)
Minnesota Wild: 25.67% win probability
- Weaker defensive record (239 goals against compared to Vegas' 219)
- Lower overall winning percentage (45 wins vs. Vegas' 50 wins)
- Road disadvantage against a top Western Conference team (Minnesota finished 7th in the conference with 97 points)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts.
Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
| Vegas Golden Knights | Minnesota Wild | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild preview
The Vegas Golden Knights enter the Stanley Cup playoffs as Pacific Division champions, boasting a formidable 50-22-10 record and looking to leverage their home-ice advantage at T-Mobile Arena against the Minnesota Wild in Sunday's series opener.
Minnesota (45-30-7) secured the top wild card spot despite offensive struggles, averaging just 2.74 goals per game but getting a massive boost with star forward Kirill Kaprizov returning from injury after missing much of the second half of the season.
Vegas brings a balanced attack led by Jack Eichel and Mark Stone (combining for 47 goals and 114 assists) while Minnesota counters with a stingy defense anchored by Brock Faber and Filip Gustavsson's impressive .914 save percentage.
The goaltending duel between Gustavsson and Vegas' Adin Hill could define this series, with both netminders posting similar numbers and capable of stealing games.
These teams present a fascinating contrast—Vegas' high-powered offense (3.34 goals per game) against Minnesota's shutdown defensive system—setting up a classic playoff chess match.
The Wild stumbled down the stretch but hope Kaprizov provides the offensive spark needed to counter Vegas' well-rounded attack that features significant offensive contributions from defensemen Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild form
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild head to head
Vegas Golden Knights
83%
Minnesota Wild
17%
Mar 26, 2025
Minnesota Wild
1 : 5
Vegas Golden Knights
Jan 13, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights
4 : 1
Minnesota Wild
Dec 15, 2024
Minnesota Wild
2 : 3
Vegas Golden Knights
Apr 13, 2024
Vegas Golden Knights
7 : 2
Minnesota Wild
Mar 30, 2024
Minnesota Wild
1 : 2
Vegas Golden Knights
Feb 13, 2024
Vegas Golden Knights
3 : 5
Minnesota Wild
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