Wild vs. Golden Knights Game 5 Predictions and Best Bets (April 29, 2025)
The Wild missed their chance to grab a 3-1 series lead for the first time in franchise history—watching their odds of winning slip from a sure thing to anyone’s series all in the time it took Barbashev to pounce on a loose puck and fire it home during a scramble in front of the net. The Golden Knights are still in it heading into Game 5!
- The series is all tied up at 2-2, and both sides are throwing body checks and haymakers.
- Vegas heads back to their barn, but Minnesota’s has made them work for it.
- Game 5 separates the real contenders from the ones that are just trying to hang on.
- Who’s got the edge? Where are the bets stacking up? And who do we think will win?
Game Info
- Date & Time: Tuesday, April 29, 9:30 pm ET
- Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- Broadcast: ESPN (U.S.), SNE/SN360/TVA Sports (Canada)
- Series: TIED 2 – 2
Team Overviews
Four games in, and both teams have traded some punches, tightened up defensively, and leaned hard on their goaltending. With the series tied 2-2, here’s where the Wild and Golden Knights stand heading into a critical Game 5.
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota bounced back and then some after a rough start. They literally came out swinging with physical play and tight checking to slow down Vegas’s high-end skill.
- Regular Season Record: 47-31-8
- Key Players: Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Filip Gustavsson
- Playoff Performance: The Wild showed plenty of fight with back-to-back 5-2 wins in Games 2 and 3. Filip Gustavsson has been a major reason why, turning away 40-plus shots in multiple games and keeping Minnesota in every battle.
Vegas Golden Knights
Back on their home ice, the Golden Knights are hoping to ride their depth and skill so that they can take control of the series, but Minnesota will have something to say about that.
- Regular Season Record: 52-24-10
- Key Players: Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev, Adin Hill
- Playoff Performance: Vegas opened strong with a 4-2 win in Game 1 and clawed out an overtime victory in Game 4 to even things up again. Adin Hill has been super steady in the net, stopping 29 shots in the last win, and has kept Vegas’s head above water when the momentum changed.
Head-to-Head Comparison
If you are gonna bet on this one, you should see how the numbers look when compared side-by-side! Look below for a head-to-head comparison of both teams’ offense, defense, and special teams.
| Category | Minnesota Wild | Vegas Golden Knights |
|---|---|---|
Goals Per Game | 2.74 | 3.34 |
Goals Against Average | 2.88 | 2.61 |
Power Play % | 20.9% | 28.3% |
Penalty Kill % | 72.4% | 75.7% |
Vegas scores heavier and cashes in more on the man advantage, but the Wild drag games into a slog where the big numbers don’t always win.
Betting Odds & Insights
Fanatics Sportsbook has laid out the lines, and the Knights are getting the usual home-ice bump. Here’s where the odds are as of now:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Wild | +1.5 (-150) | +175 | Over 5.5 (-125) |
Golden Knights | -1.5 (+125) | -215 | Under 5.5 (+105) |
Trends
Before you put any money down on the game, below is how both sides have been skating during the NHL season:
- Vegas at Home: T-Mobile Arena’s been a house of pain for visiting teams; 29-9-3 this season.
- Minnesota as Underdogs: The Wild haven’t been cashing their tickets as underdogs, posting a rough 37-60 record in those spots.
Our Best Bets
What are your best bets for this scrap? Based on how it’s gone so far, here’s what we think:
- Golden Knights Moneyline (-215): There is no reason to get fancy. Vegas owns home ice and just yanked back momentum with a gut-check OT win.
- Over 5.5 Total Goals (-125): With how loose the neutral zone’s gotten late in games, another high-event night feels more likely than a goalie vs goalie game.
- Pavel Dorofeyev, Anytime Goal Scorer: Dorofeyev keeps getting the slick goals and finding soft spots. In a chippy game like this? He’s absolutely a threat to cash in.
Key Matchups to Watch
There are two main one-on-one battles that will be pivotal in who comes out on top when the blood on the ice settles:
- Kaprizov vs. Eichel: Two drivers who aren’t only putting up points—they seem to change the ice when they’re on it. Eichel’s been hot, but Kaprizov has another gear he hasn’t quite hit yet.
- Gustavsson vs. Hill: Gustavsson’s athleticism has bailed Minnesota out more times than we can count. But Hill’s rebound control and low panic level could be the difference if the Wild crash the blue paint again.
Final Thoughts
Game 5’s the kind of night where one bad bounce or a greasy rebound could change the outcome. Vegas has the firepower to bury mistakes, and home ice gives them the last change, which matters more than people want to admit. But the Wild aren’t going to hand anything over without a knock-down, drag-out fight.
If Vegas leans on their depth and wins the special teams battle? They’ll pull away late. If Minnesota can drag it into the muck and frustrate the Knights’ skill guys, they’ve got a shot to steal it.
We’re backing Vegas to hold serve at home, and we don’t hate a sprinkle on the over either—both teams are gonna be throwing the kitchen sink by the third period.
Want some more playoff picks? You can check out our guide to the best online betting sites!
