The Vegas Golden Knights are staggering down the home stretch. With a four-game homestand to close out the season, the defending Stanley Cup champs will need wins to clinch a playoff berth, starting Friday night against the Minnesota Wild.
Vegas, currently holding the second Wild Card berth in the West, are -175 moneyline favorites in the NHL odds.
Read below for my free NHL picks and Wild vs. Golden Knights predictions for Friday, April 12.
Wild vs Golden Knights prediction
My best bet
Golden Knights -1.5 (+145 at SIA)
My analysis
The Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in a predicament after a disastrous three-game road trip, losing all three, allowing six goals per game over that stretch.
It started by blowing a 4-1 third-period lead by allowing six straight goals in a 7-4 loss to the Coyotes. Next, with a 3-2 lead against Vancouver, Vegas ended up losing 4-3. They then followed that up by getting dismantled 5-1 by the Oilers.
This slump has allowed St. Louis to stay within striking distance, three points back of the final Wild Card berth with three games left on its schedule. It’s not what anyone expected when the Knights opened 11-0-1 on the year and led the Pacific at 14-4-2. Since then, they’ve floated with a 28-24-6 mark.
Perhaps home ice will help them tonight, as they are 24-11-2 at home and have won five straight at T-Mobile Arena by at least two goals.
The Minnesota Wild's playoff push is over, done in by their own end-of-season swoon with just four wins in their last 11 games, the latest a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Minnesota’s defensive woes are the most glaring of its problems, allowing 4.3 goals per game over its last seven losses.
Vegas has dominated this matchup, with four wins in the last five head-to-heads. Of those seven wins, the Golden Knights have scored four or more goals five times while limiting the Wild to two goals or less five times.
Vegas obviously has way more to play for, as an outstanding homestand can not only help it clinch a playoff spot, but climb out of the Wild Card spot and past L.A. for third in the Pacific.
Wild vs Golden Knights same-game parlay (SGP)
Golden Knights -1.5
Jonathan Marchessault anytime goal
Jack Eichel anytime goal
Jonathan Marchessault is Vegas’ leading scorer on the year with 67 points, cracking the 40-goal plateau for the first time in his career.
His road trip was among the worst of any Golden Knight, as he registered a single point across three losses. However, the Wild should be a welcome sight as Marchessault actually hit the 40-goal milestone against them with an empty-netter. He has goals in both games against Minnesota this year.
On the opposite end of that spectrum is Jack Eichel.
The 27-year-old center was left off the scoresheet last time out against Edmonton, but prior to that, Eichel had goals in three straight games and four in the previous five. In 12 career games against the Wild, Eichel has found the scoresheet in nine contests, including three goals. Look for him to play a prominent role for Vegas on Friday.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Wild vs Golden Knights odds
Wild vs Golden Knights live odds
Wild vs Golden Knights opening odds
- Puck line: Minnesota +1.5 | Vegas -1.5
- Moneyline: Minnesota +143 | Vegas -162
- Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Wild vs Golden Knights moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- The Wild are 7-1 in their last eight night games vs. Pacific Division opponents.
- Vegas is 7-3 vs. Minnesota in its last 10 games.
- The Over is 3-0-1 in the last four Golden Knights’ games.
Wild vs Golden Knights trend
Minnesota is 1-4 at T-Mobile Arena in its last five visits. Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs. Golden Knights.
Wild vs Golden Knights game info
| Location: | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV |
| Date: | Friday, 4-12-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSNX, SCRIPPS |
Wild vs Golden Knights latest injuries
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