The Golden Knights have strung together back-to-back wins and can advance to the second round with a win tonight against the Wild. The series is back in Minnesota for Game 6 but the Wild are +140 underdogs on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at O/U 5.5 goals. Filip Gustavsson left Game 5 with an illness but is the likely goaltender for Minnesota. Adin Hill will draw the start for Vegas.
See below for a preview and best bet for tonight’s Game 6 matchup between the Wild and Golden Knights.
Wild vs. Golden Knights Game 6 preview, prediction
Game 5 was a sad one for the Wild after a late overturned third-period goal but the series has shifted back to Minnesota for Game 6. Kirill Kaprizov and Matthew Boldy are on fire and were both catalysts in the Game 3 and 4 wins. Gustavsson has been one of the best goaltenders this postseason and is presumably good to go tonight. This postseason, the Wild rank third in 5v5 goal percentage, fourth in goals above expected and eighth in high-danger chances. They can score but the overall depth is where the concern comes in as only five different skaters have found the back of the net this series. Outside of Kaprizov and Boldy, the Wild lack meaningful contributors and it could catch up to them.
This series has been so close because of how good Vegas has been, too. Its depth clears Minnesota’s as 11 different skaters have contributed in the scoring department thus far. Hill sports one of the worst postseason goals saved above expected percentages but the Knights have won back-to-back games and can send the Wild home tonight. Among postseason teams, Vegas ranks 13th in 5v5 goal percentage and 15th in goals above expected. But, the Knights rank third in high-danger chances and have outshot the Wild in every game this series.
Wild vs. Golden Knights Game 6 pick, best bet
Vegas is the better team and has won back-to-back games. But, I’m backing Minnesota at home. Kaprizov and Boldy have outperformed the Knights’ top talent and Gustavsson has been the better goaltender. Game 6 is in Minnesota, too, in front of thousands of pure hockey fans. The past two games needed overtime and if not for the late overturned goal, the series would be flipped and the Knights would be facing elimination. The Wild can roll with the best of the best and I expect them to force a Game 7.
