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- After trailing 3-0, the Utah Mammoth pushed Game 4 to overtime but lost 5-4; Clayton Keller scored his first playoff goal.
- Power plays are failing: Mammoth went 0-for-3 in Game 4; Golden Knights are 1-for-12 over the last three games.
- Goaltending remains a concern as Karel Vejmelka and Carter Hart showed inconsistency and negative goals saved above expected.
- Betting market favors the Golden Knights on the moneyline while the Mammoth sit as underdogs; spread and O/U hover near six goals.
- Prediction: Golden Knights 4-3; play recommendation includes Ivan Barbashev over 0.5 points and the Over 6 goals.
Updated April 29, 2026, 5:19 p.m. ET
The Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights meet Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in Game 5 of their best-of-7 Western Conference first-round NHL playoff series. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze NHL odds around the Mammoth vs. Golden Knights and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Best-of-7 series: Tied 2-2
The Mammoth battled back from down 3-0 to push it to overtime in Game 4 on Monday before falling 5-4. RW Clayton Keller scored his first goal of the playoffs and D Mikhail Sergachev had 3 assists. The Mammoth outhit the Knights 57-41 and killed all 4 power plays faced but also went 0-for-3 on the PP themselves.
Conversely, VGK went 0-for-4 on the PP, and the Knights are now 1-for-12 with the man advantage in the last 3 games. C Brett Howden had his first 2 goals of the playoffs and D Shea Theodore sent the Utah faithful home unhappy. C Jack Eichel added 3 assists.
Mammoth at Golden Knights odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:05 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Mammoth +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Golden Knights -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mammoth +1.5 (-185) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+154)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Mammoth at Golden Knights projected goalies
Karel Vejmelka (2-2, 2.80 GAA, .899 SV% in postseason) vs. Carter Hart (2-2, 3.08 GAA, .886 SV% in postseason)
Veggie stopped 31 of 36 shots fired his way Monday in what was his worst performance of the series on paper. He was good in high-danger chances at 5-on-5, though, stopping 8 of 10. It was the mid-danger chances that got him, and analytics show it. He dropped from seventh to 14th in the playoffs with -0.3 goals saved above expected.
Hart stopped 27 of 31 shots in Game 4 but let some soft ones in. He was 6-for-7 in high- and mid-danger chances, but he allowed 3 goals on 17 low-danger shots. He’s now 18th (fourth worst) in the playoffs with -1.9 goals saved above expected. He’s likely on a short hook if the game gets off to a bad start.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Best prop bets for Game 1’s
Mammoth at Golden Knights picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 4, Mammoth 3
I think the Knights take care of home ice, but Utah won the last game here. This price is too steep for me.
So let’s go with IVAN BARBASHEV OVER 0.5 POINTS (-120). He has a point in every game in the series.
There’s no play here. If I had to pick a side, I’d take the Mammoth +1.5, but -180 kills it for me.
PASS.
The Over is 2-1-1 in this series, and it has cashed in the last 2 games. At an even 6 goals, it’s 1-0-1. With the holes I’ve seen in these goalies of late, we’re going OVER 6 (-105).
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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