Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 1 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Utah Mammoth make their playoff debut on Sunday night with a first-round matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Utah is already making a name for itself in Year 2 after locking down the Western Conference’s top wild-card spot with a 92-point campaign.
Vegas has been a perennial playoff contender since joining the league for the 2017-18 season. The Golden Knights benefitted from the “pillow fight” that is the Pacific Division this year, claiming top spot in the division with just 95 points.
Vegas opens as a -155 favourite to win Game 1 on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.0.
Mammoth vs. Golden Knights NHL Betting Odds
The Mammoth are in the playoffs for the first time since the NHL officially approved the league’s newest franchise in April 2024. Owner Ryan Smith bought the hockey assets of the Arizona Coyotes, who had missed the playoffs four straight years.
Vegas has been almost flawless since they joined the league, reaching the postseason in eight of nine years. That includes 62 playoff wins, 12 series wins, two appearances in the Stanley Cup Final and one Stanley Cup championship.
These teams’ respective divisions couldn’t have more different reputations this year. Utah comes from the ultra competitive Central that boasts legit Stanley Cup contenders in Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota. On the other hand, the Pacific Division Golden Knights’ had 14 points less than the next closest division-winner.
The Mammoth won two of three regular season meetings, outscoring Vegas 10-5 in the process. That hasn’t influenced oddsmakers, who have the Golden Knights listed as -190 series favourites on the NHL futures board. The favoured exact series result is Vegas winning in five games at +375.
Utah Mammoth
With almost 700 games played in his career, 27-year-old Clayton Keller is ready for playoff hockey. Utah’s captain played all 82 regular season games this year, leading the team with 88 points (26G, 62A). Nick Schmaltz also played every game this year and sits second in points (74), while Dylan Guenther led the team with 40 goals in 73 games.
Another player finally poised to play spring hockey is goaltender Karel Vejmelka. The 29-year-old carried the bulk of the load for the Mammoth this year, posting a 38-20-3 record with a 2.75 goals-against average, .897 save percentage and two shutouts. He led all NHL goalies in games played, games started and he was second to Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in wins.
Utah’s biggest advantage in this series will be their youth and speed, something Vegas can’t match. If the Mammoth can combine that with the veteran experience they have with five Stanley Cup winners on the roster, they have a shot at an upset.
Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel steers the boat when it comes to the Golden Knights. Eichel once again led the team in points with 90 (27G, 63A) and he’ll be relied upon to replicate the team-high 26 points (6G, 20A) he had when Vegas won the Cup in 2023. Newcomer Mitch Marner, who was second on the Golden Knights with 80 points (24G, 56A) in the regular season, will also get a chance to put his past playoff demons in Toronto behind him.
The massive question mark surrounding Vegas all season has been goaltending, with three golaies getting 18 or more starts. At this point it’s Carter Hart’s net. Hart has been nearly perfect in the final stretch of the season, going 6-0-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .930 SV since returning from a lower-body injury.
One thing that could dictate this series is special teams. The Golden Knights’ 226 minor penalty minutes in the regular season tied New Jersey for the fewest in the NHL. That’s hugely beneficial against a Utah power play that doesn’t always capitalize on their opportunities with a 20 per cent success rate (18th in NHL).
