The Minnesota Wild look to secure a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center after winning the last two games by identical 5-2 scorelines.
While the Wild's offensive duo of Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy have dominated this series with a combined eight goals, the Golden Knights desperately need superstars Jack Eichel and Mark Stone to break their surprising scoring drought.
Vegas enters as slight favorites despite their recent struggles, setting up what could be the pivotal turning point in this first-round Western Conference matchup.
Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights matchup, our predictive model gives the Golden Knights a 53.67% chance of defeating the Wild.
Vegas Golden Knights: 53.67% win probability
- Superior overall record (50 wins to Minnesota's 45, ranking 2nd vs 7th in Western Conference)
- Significantly better goal differential (+56 compared to Wild's -11)
- Consistent recent form (WLWWL shows stability compared to Minnesota's more erratic performance history)
Minnesota Wild: 46.33% win probability
- Negative goal differential (-11 with 228 goals for and 239 against)
- Lower points total (97 points compared to Vegas' 110)
- Defensive vulnerability (allowed 239 goals, ranking them in the bottom half of Western Conference defenses)
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.
Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights odds
Here are the latest odds for the NHL matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild, who host the game on Saturday, April 26.
| Minnesota Wild | Vegas Golden Knights | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | +126 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) | -145 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
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Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights preview
The Golden Knights face a pivotal Game 4 in Minnesota with all momentum swinging toward the Wild, who have seized a 2-1 series lead after dropping the opener.
Vegas' high-powered offense that averaged 3.34 goals per game during the regular season has suddenly gone cold, with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone notably absent from the scoresheet throughout the series.
Minnesota has found its scoring touch at the perfect time, with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy combining for eight goals and five assists while netminder Filip Gustavsson has been stellar, stopping 83 of 90 shots faced.
Saturday's matinee at the raucous Xcel Energy Center offers Vegas a critical opportunity to level the series before heading home, but they'll need defensive improvement after surrendering five goals in each of the last two contests.
The Wild can push the 3-seed Golden Knights to the brink of elimination with another home win, continuing their surprising turnaround against a Vegas team that finished with five more regular-season wins.
Key stats
- 1Vegas Golden Knights sit 2nd in the Western Conference with 110 points, while Minnesota Wild are 7th with 97 points—a 13-point differential that suggests a significant gap in season-long performance.
- 2The Golden Knights have scored 275 goals while conceding 219 (goal difference +56), compared to Wild's 228 goals for and 239 against (goal difference -11).
- 3Recent form shows contrast: Vegas enters with a WLWWL record in their last 5 games, while Minnesota comes in with stronger momentum at WWLWW.
- 4Golden Knights have won 50 games this season compared to Wild's 45, but Minnesota has demonstrated they can compete with top teams despite the disparity in the standings.
Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights form
Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights head to head
Minnesota Wild
33%
Vegas Golden Knights
67%
Apr 25, 2025
Minnesota Wild
5 : 2
Vegas Golden Knights
Apr 23, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights
2 : 5
Minnesota Wild
Apr 21, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights
4 : 2
Minnesota Wild
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
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