The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, and Game 1 between the Vegas Golden Knights against the Minnesota Wild will put a bow on the first weekend of the postseason.
The Golden Knights have won the last five meetings between these two teams and eight out of the last nine.
Find out why my Wild vs. Golden Knights predictions and Game 1 NHL picks for Sunday, April 21st, 2025, favor the home team.
Who will win Wild vs Golden Knights Game 1?
It's a challenge to find any aspect of the game right now that gives Minnesota an edge over Vegas. The Golden Knights have been one of the best teams in the league all season long and were relatively consistent throughout the entire year.
Vegas was 29-9-3 on home ice this season, but the Wild weren't so bad on the road as they skated to a 23-13-5 record.
That said, since March, Minnesota has been playing slightly above .500 hockey, while Vegas has skated to a win percentage of .739; they have been the much better team.
Wild vs Golden Knights prediction
My Wild pick: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (+130 at BET99)
The Vegas Golden Knights won all three meetings against the Minnesota Wild this season and outscored them by a combined 12-4 in those three contests.
The only downside of the Golden Knights' game down the stretch of the season was their penalty kill, which was at a 72.9% over the final 23 games, but the Wild's man-advantage isn't all that threatening.
Vegas was lights out offensively at home this season, averaging 30 shots on goal per game and scoring 3.59 goals per contest. Defensively at home, the Golden Knights typically allow 26.49 shots against and have only allowed 2.44 goals against.
For Minnesota, when they were on the road, they averaged 2.85 goals per game.
This series is going to be a great battle between goaltenders, but the edge still goes to the Golden Knights, who will be leaning on Adin Hill. Hill had a strong finish to the season, boasting an 11-3-1 record in his final 15 starts.
In that span, he had a .915 save percentage and a 2.18 goals against average, and he skated to a +8.9 goals saved above expected in his final 20 games.
Jack Eichel is and will be the best player in this series. Eichel had one of the best seasons of his career, scoring 94 points in 77 games. He also had a strong finish to the year, skating to 24 points in his final 19 games.
For the Wild, Kirill Kaprizov is their number one threat, and had he not been injured, he would have had a strong chance to be the league's MVP.
If the Golden Knights can take away his time and space, the Wild will have a hard time scoring goals, just like they did when he was out due to injury.
Down the stretch, Minnesota only averaged 2.50 goals per game, which was the third-worst average in the league's final 22 games.
Vegas should be able to dominate this game and this series.
Wild vs Golden Knights same-game parlay (SGP)
Vegas Golden Knights -1.5
Jack Eichel 1+ points
Pavel Dorofeyev 1+ points
It took him a while to get there the first time, but Jack Eichel has proven that he is a playoff player.
In his postseason career, Eichel has 33 points in 29 games and has averaged a point per game in the two postseasons he's played in.
He's the most important player on this team, and he should get off to a hot start in Game 1.
Pavel Dorofeyev is getting his first true test of postseason hockey. He has only played in one playoff game in his career, but the 24-year-old had a heck of a first full season in the NHL.
Dorofeyev put up 35 goals and 17 assists for 52 points in 82 games. He had a strong finish to the season with eight goals in the final 15 games, and it always helps when you play alongside Jack Eichel.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Bet on the NHL at BET99!
One of Canada's best sportsbooks for hockey betting, join BET99 and get up to $1,500 bonus bets back if your first bet doesn’t win when using our BET99 promo code COVERSBONUS!
*Not available in Ontario. 19+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Wild vs Golden Knights odds
Wild vs Golden Knights live odds
Wild vs Golden Knights opening odds
- Puck line: Minnesota +1.5 (-158) | Vegas -1.5 (+210)
- Moneyline: Minnesota (+180) | Vegas (-205)
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-105) | Under 5.5 (-111)
Odds courtesy of BET99
Wild vs Golden Knights trend
Vegas has won the past five meetings between these two teams and eight of the last nine. Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Wild vs Golden Knights
| Location | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV |
| Date | Sunday, 4-20-2025 |
| Puck drop | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Wild vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
