Minnesota vs Vegas

Vegas enters this one with home-ice swagger and a mostly healthy lineup, while Minnesota still juggles injuries on the blue line and leans on a short-term scoring streak to stay afloat. The Golden Knights' balanced attack and stingy goaltending at home provide a sharp contrast to the Wild’s inconsistency on the road. Now playing the playoffs, Minnesota will face even more pressure to perform against a significantly better team. Even with Minnesota playing scrappy, the Knights’ dominance at home—combined with their matchup history edge—makes the favorite the right side.

Sure, the Wild’s underdog odds are tempting, but it’s hard to pass up Vegas straight up, even if you’re paying for it. The metrics line up, the trends back it, and a moneyline play earns a firm B grade for solid value without stretching too far.

Minnesota rides into Vegas on a two-game heater, while the Golden Knights look to turn their good form into a deep cup run. Both teams will be without key pieces on defense, which could open up lanes for offensive weapons on either side. Goaltending has been solid but not elite, and with the pressure of playoff clinches already lifted, both squads might lean into a faster, more experimental style—especially on the power play. Previous matchups have also trended high-scoring, reinforcing the read.

This one sets up nicely for the Over 5.5, which offers solid value at current odds. It’s not without risk, but the recent form and missing personnel tilt the scale toward an offensive showcase—making this a confident B-grade bet.

Vegas returns home riding good form, boasting nearly a full roster and plenty of scoring depth, while Minnesota arrives on a two-game run of it's own, but still patching together its lineup without key contributors on defense and the wing. The Golden Knights’ ability to roll multiple lines gives them a clear edge, especially with their top forwards consistently producing in this matchup. With this being a very lopsided matchup in the first round, the energy at home should push Vegas to keep the pressure on for the full 60.

The Wild have their moments, but Vegas' momentum, roster health, and home-ice dominance make the -1.5 puckline at -135 a sharp play. It’s not just about winning—this setup points to winning with breathing room, making this an A-grade bet worth backing.