The Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights play Game 7 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena. Below, we analyze the Wild-Golden Knights odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Wild were struggling mightily on offense in the first 4 games of this series leaving them down 3-1 heading into Game 5 in Las Vegas, while averaging just 1.0 goals per game.
A funny thing has happened along the way, as Minnesota has rattled off 2 straight wins to force a Game 7, notching 7 total goals to just 2 for Vegas.
The Golden Knights have had a power outage on offense. While they averaged 4.0 goals per game in their wins from Game 2 through 4, they’ve notched 2 total goals in their 3 losses, including being shutout in Game 6 in St. Paul.
Wild at Golden Knights: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 8:28 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Wild +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Golden Knights -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Wild +1.5 (-180) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under: 5 (O: -145 | U: +120)
Wild at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies
Cam Talbot (19-8-5, 2.63 GAA, .915 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (26-10-0, 1.98 GAA, .928 SV%, 6 SO)
Talbot has posted a pair of shutouts in the series, in Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena to open up action and again in Game 6 at Xcel Energy Center to stave off elimination and set up a decisive Game 7. He has been stealing games, which is exactly what the Wild have needed.
After giving up 3 goals in Game 5, Fleury had been exchanging donuts with Talbot until the third period in Game 6, when Ryan Hartman, Kevin Fiala, and Nick Bjugstad broke the tie with 3 on the future Hall of Famer. Just like that a 3-1 series lead has become a 3-3 series tie.
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Wild at Golden Knights: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Golden Knights 2, Wild 0
Money line (ML)
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-180) are a good pick on home ice at this price, despite that they have been struggling on offense, including a shutout loss in Game 6.
Fleury’s performance in the past 2 games might give bettors pause, as Talbot has been a bit better. However, whenever Fleury has looked down and out before he has bounced back admirably; expect more of the same.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS -1.5 (+155) is worth a small-unit play at T-Mobile Arena in this one. Although Vegas isn’t likely to light the world afire against Talbot I really like Fleury on home ice.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 5 (+120) is the best play on the board. Fleury and Talbot have put on a goaltender’s clinic in this series, with the Under hitting in 4 of the 6 games. We have had a total of just 25 goals overall in the series, or 4.2 goals per outing.
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