NHL Picks & Predictions: Golden Knights vs. Mammoth (Monday)
The Hurricanes and the Avalanche have already punched their tickets to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sweeping the Senators and Kings, respectively, in four games. There are two more first-round contests on Monday, including the Flyers trying to finish off the Penguins, and the Mammoth hoping to take a 3-1 series lead over the Golden Knights. I've got you covered if you're looking to get some skin in the game tonight. Below, I'll dive into each contest, breaking down the odds, key metrics, and my favorite wagers. Here are my top NHL picks and bets for Monday, April 27th’s game Golden Knights vs. Mammoth.
Monday's NHL Picks: Golden Knights vs. Mammoth
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Vegas Golden Knights (-115) vs. Utah Mammoth (-105) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
There was some hype surrounding the Mammoth as a potential darkhorse team in the Western Conference, and they've exceeded expectations through the first three games. They hold a 2-1 series lead over the Golden Knights heading into Monday's contest. This game is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT.
I'll be on the Under at plus-money in Monday's nightcap. Vegas has been an Under machine on the road recently, seeing seven of their last nine away games stay under the number. Partially, this is due to Carter Hart's reemergence in net. In six regular-season games in April, the Knights netminder posted a 1.66 GAA and a .930 SV%.
Neither of these offenses have been able to drum up very many quality looks in the playoffs. Utah is 11th in high-danger shots on goal (10), while Vegas is 13th (8). During 5-on-5 play specifically, both squads have an expected goals per 60 mark of 2.18. Additionally, with each team having taken nine or fewer penalties (VGK: 6, UTAH: 9), I think we can start to put the pieces together for another low-scoring affair. At +110, I think it's worth a flier on the Under at 5.5 goals.
Pick: Under 5.5 Goals (+110)