The Vegas Golden Knights (1-1-0) and Utah Mammoth (1-1-0) meet in Game 3 of the NHL Playoffs tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. EDT at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will be broadcast live on TBS.
The Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-114o / -102u). The Golden Knights are a -110 favorite to win outright, while the Mammoth are -110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Golden Knights vs. Utah predictions and NHL picks.
Golden Knights vs. Utah Odds, Pick
| Golden Knights Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +232 | 6 -114o / -102u | -110 |
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -270 | 6 -114o / -102u | -110 |
- Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 (+232), Mammoth +1.5 (-270)
- Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Over/Under: 6 (-114o / -102u)
- Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Moneyline: Golden Knights -110, Mammoth -110
Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Preview
Vegas Golden Knights
This game went down to the wire, but it was Utah that fully dominated the Golden Knights on their own rink.
Tomas Hertl was clearly the Knights’ best player, peppering shots left and right, and attempting to create scoring chances. Players like Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner seemed to be invisible.
Yes, Eichel and Marner did end up registering assists, and we’ll always take that, but I needed more from both of them. They both played to a .05 xGF% or worse, which is nowhere near what we typically expect of them. So it’s no wonder why Vegas ended up losing.
The line featuring Eichel, Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone was also getting pounded, as they were on the ice for 11 shots on goal against, and posted a game-worst .942 xGA.
Meanwhile, the Hertl line featuring Keegan Kolesar and Reilly Smith was the only line on Vegas that made a significant positive difference on both ends of the ice.
So far, since returning from injury, Carter Hart has looked fantastic. His rebound control was solid, and did a quality job at stuffing high danger chances. The one problem that he’ll need to work on is the “gimmes.”
Hart did end up letting in two goals that should’ve been easy saves, which is brutal for him and the Knights moving forward.
Utah Mammoth
I love this Mammoth team.
This is a tremendously deep squad with a young core that can last for years to come. I do think Utah needs to improve on the fourth line, which could affect them moving forward, but nonetheless, this is a quality team.
The line of Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley and Kailer Yamamoto has been dynamite, and it showed on Tuesday. They controlled both ends of the ice fabulously, with a .71 xGF% and a .03 xGA, and only allowed one shot attempt.
One. That is an insane number, especially in the playoffs.
In addition, the defensive pairing of Ian Cole and Sean Durzi was tremendous in Game 2, limiting Vegas to just .06 xGA and while on ice, posted a .51 xGF%.
Goaltender Karel Vejmelka was a total monster in the crease, posting a .13 GSAx and was excellent with his rebounds. But the one number that stood out to me was how few high-danger chances he faced.
That’s a testament to how well Utah’s defense has played in front of him.
Golden Knights vs. Utah Prediction
This series has primarily been carried by quality defense and goaltending.
Had it not been for an empty net goal by Barbashev in Game 1, we would’ve had two straight 3-2 games, and I think we’re on pace for another low-scoring duel.
Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny has done a fantastic job at preparing his team to protect their end and their goaltender. And aside from the Cole/Durzi pairing, I was also impressed by the Mikhail Sergachev/MacKenzie Weegar duo.
Vegas has had an increasingly hard time creating opportunities for itself, and it’s only going to get harder from here on. The Knights were fairly mediocre on the road all season, so I’m expecting tonight to be a grind for both squads.
Pick: Under 5.5 (+106, FanDuel)
