The Vegas Golden Knights (1-2-0) and Utah Mammoth (2-1-0) meet in Game 4 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 ESPN.
The Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-114o / -104u). The Golden Knights are a -115 favorite to win outright, while the Mammoth are -105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Golden Knights vs. Mammoth predictions and NHL picks.
Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Odds, Pick
| Golden Knights Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +210 | 6 -114o / -104u | -115 |
| Mammoth Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -265 | 6 -114o / -104u | -105 |
- Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 (+210), Mammoth +1.5 (-265)
- Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Over/Under: 6 (-114o / -104u)
- Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Moneyline: Golden Knights -115, Mammoth -105
Golden Knights vs Mammoth Kalshi Odds
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Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Preview
Vegas Golden Knights
Down 2-1 in the series, the Knights are searching for a spark on offense. Vegas has allowed the fewest xGA in the playoffs at 8.62, but the offensive side has been choppy at times.
The team sits 15th in xGF with just 8.8 and has gone 1-for-8 on the power play over the last two games.
That has prompted John Tortorella to shake a few things up heading into Game 4. Pavel Dorofeyev is being bumped back up to the first line as well as the top power play unit after sliding from the second line to the fourth line in Game 3.
Dorofeyev has just one goal in 11 playoff games over the last two seasons, but pairing him with Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel could be the jolt he needs. If it clicks, it would be a major boost to a group that has struggled to consistently generate chances.
On the power play, Shea Theodore appears set to replace Mitch Marner on the top unit, which should help with puck movement, while moving Marner to the second unit may help even things out across both groups.
In net, Carter Hart has been solid overall this series, posting a .892 SV% and a -0.4 GSAx. He was brilliant in Game 1, stopping 31 of 33 shots, but came back to earth in Game 3, allowing four goals on just 12 shots.
Tortorella has publicly backed Hart heading into tonight, so expect him to draw the start over Adin Hill, regardless of the tough outing.
Utah Mammoth
Despite generating just 12 shots on goal in Game 3, the Mammoth walked away with a 4-2 win, putting Vegas on the brink of falling into a 3-1 hole.
While stylistically different, the Mammoth and Knights have mirrored each other in a lot of ways this series. The two teams sit at the top in xGA this postseason, with Utah allowing 8.8 xGA compared to Vegas' 8.62.
Up front, Utah has plenty of speed between Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther to generate more chances.
Offensively, things have played out fairly evenly, with Utah sitting just behind at a 49.48% xGF%. That said, the Mammoth feel like they have the higher ceiling for an outburst.
The Knights deserve credit for limiting chances, though, ranking second in the league in xGA/60 at 2.69 during the regular season, but as I mentioned, Utah’s talent and speed up front feel like a strong matchup to crack that stingy defense.
Another angle working in Utah’s favor is the Delta Center. From the outside looking in, it looks like an absolutely awesome playoff atmosphere, and it is another challenge Vegas will have to navigate tonight.
Between the pipes, I thought Karel Vejmelka stole Game 3. Vegas outshot Utah 10-1 early on, and Vejmelka turned everything aside until the second period, by which point Utah had already built a 4-0 lead.
He’s been excellent in the playoffs overall, posting a +1.6 GSAx and a .916 SV%. After leading the league with 64 appearances during the regular season, expect Utah to keep riding him the rest of the way.
Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Prediction
For how exciting Utah is to watch, I thought they were a little lucky to walk away with a win in Game 3. The Mammoth were outshot 32-12 and finished with just a 39.71 xGF%.
I can’t help but think back to last postseason when Minnesota took a 2-1 lead against Vegas, only for the Knights to claw back and win three straight to take the series in six.
I also like the lineup changes Tortorella made heading into this one, and it sets up as a good bounce-back spot for Vegas, which desperately wants to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole.
The bottom of the Western Conference bracket is wide open, and the Knights are more than capable of making a run, given how stifling their defense can be.
Pick: Golden Knights Moneyline (-118, FanDuel)
