Mammoth vs. Golden Knights Game 1 Prediction & Odds: NHL Picks Today (April 19)
Will the Vegas Golden Knights' boon under John Tortorella continue in the postseason, or was their 7-0-1 record under the new bench boss inflated because of the level of opposition?
Believing it's the former, I'm backing Vegas in my Mammoth vs. Golden Knights prediction for tonight's Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Golden Knights are the -150 betting favorite for the visitors' first postseason game since relocating to Utah.
With the Golden Knights playing much better defensively down the stretch, I'm backing the Under. I'm also featuring a Mitch Marner player prop.
🏒 Mammoth vs. Golden Knights picks & odds today: April 19
See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds.
| 💰 Pick | ⚖️ Bet size (units) | 🧠 Why I bet this |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Knights (-150 via BetMGM) | 1u → 0.67u | The Golden Knights enter the playoffs beaming with confidence. |
| Under 6.5 (-135 via DraftKings) | 1u → 0.74u | Vegas' defensive record is outstanding recently. |
| Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists (-135 via Caesars) | 2u → 1.48u | Marner was an assist-per-game player in 3 of the previous 4 playoffs. |
Total wagered: 4 units | Max profit: 2.89 units
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🏆 Who will win Mammoth vs. Golden Knights?
The Golden Knights tore through the final stage of the season to win the Pacific Division, with a 7-0-1 record. They will be full of confidence in front of a raucous home crowd, and I like them to start the playoffs with a 3-2 victory over the newbies to the dance.
The Mammoth's defense became more leaky down the stretch, while Vegas' improved markedly after John Tortorella took the helm.
Score prediction: Golden Knights 3, Mammoth 2 (+1200)
💰 Mammoth vs. Golden Knights prediction & best bet
Under 6.5 (-135)
The Golden Knights' defensive record under Tortorella is outstanding, as they have conceded the fewest goals (1.88) since he arrived. While the defensive structure changed, the biggest and most important move Tortorella made was making Carter Hart the starting goalie.
Hart is 6-0-0 with a .930 save percentage and 1.66 goals-against average (GAA) since the coaching change.
DraftKings is the only one of the best sports betting apps offering odds of -135, and while I'm not writing home about it, I'll take it considering how short the price is elsewhere.
🔥 Best Mammoth vs. Golden Knights player prop bet
Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists (-135)
Everything didn't go to plan in Marner's first season in Sin City. But I expect his first kick of the playoff can with the Golden Knights to be a coming-out party for the setup man, albeit a late one.
Marner was an assist-a-game player in three of the previous four playoff runs with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and, at least in the aforementioned time period, he has lifted his level at this time of year.
He didn't score a point against Utah in three regular-season meetings, but the clean slate will be just what the doctor ordered. I would play the bet to -140.
🚀 Mammoth vs. Golden Knights same-game parlay
I'm expecting the Golden Knights' hot streak and improved defensive prowess to continue in tonight's Game 1. If the home team scores three goals, Marner should be the setup man for one of them.
The parlay is one of the more likely to cash, with an implied probability of 19.80%.
💵 Mammoth vs. Golden Knights SGP picks
- Golden Knights ML (-150)
- Under 6.5 (-135)
- Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists (-140)
Best odds: +405 via BetMGM (0.2u -> 0.8u)
💵 My betting record for NHL picks
All NHL picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since March 1.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78-97-4 | +18.26 units ✅ | 11.9% ✅ |
| Game picks | 13-9-0 | +2.32 units ✅ | 12.2% ✅ |
| Player props | 51-65 | +1.56 units ✅ | X.X% ✅ |
| Parlays | 1-8-0 | -0.31 units ❌ | -33.9% ❌ |
💡 How I'm betting Mammoth vs. Golden Knights
Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.
The odds for all three picks are less than ideal, but I'd rather play bets I feel confident about for less profit than scrambling to find plus-money picks I'm hesitant about.
As it's the first game of the series and given the Golden Knights' recent defensive record, I firmly believe the score will be relatively low. However, I'm not willing to back the Under on 5.5 with both teams known for exploding offensively.
DraftKings offers 6.5. Again, I'd prefer better odds, but the 6.5 is critical for the Under on this pick. Marner's proficiency in recent playoffs has me confident enough to wager 2 units. Each unit is $10.
📊 Live Mammoth vs. Golden Knights odds
The Golden Knights opened as the -170 moneyline betting favorite at the best sports betting sites, but there has been some buyback on the visiting Mammoth.
The Mammoth were pretty good down the stretch, and the Golden Knights' record is flattering considering the inferior level of opponents they faced during their scorching run.
📈 Mammoth vs. Golden Knights betting trends
| Mammoth | Statistic | Golden Knights |
|---|---|---|
| 43-33-6 | W-L record | 39-26-17 |
| 36-46-0 | ATS record | 34-48-0 |
| 7-3 | O/U record last 10 | 5-5 |
| 2-3-0 | Last 5 games | 4-0-1 |
🚑 Mammoth vs. Golden Knights injuries
📺 How to watch Mammoth vs. Golden Knights
- Date: Sunday, April 19
- Puck drop: 10 p.m. ET
- Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+
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