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Wild vs Golden Knights Picks and Predictions – Monday December 29, 2025
Minnesota heads to T-Mobile Arena for a late Monday matchup with Vegas at 10:00 PM on ESPN+. The Wild arrive at 23-10-6 and sitting near the top of the Central mix, while the Golden Knights are 17-9-11 and holding down first in the Pacific.
The market is pricing this as a tight game with a small home lean, and that makes sense. Minnesota brings a strong defensive profile and an elite power play, while Vegas has enough scoring depth to turn any track meet into a one-shot swing late.
Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas is a modest home favorite, but this is the kind of number that can move quickly once goalie confirmation hits. Keep monitoring updated NHL odds in case the puck line and total re-price around the crease.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Wild | +102 | +1.5 (varies) | 6.0 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | -122 | -1.5 (varies) | 6.0 |
Minnesota Wild Betting Form
Minnesota is playing confident hockey right now, and the 4-3 win over Winnipeg is a good snapshot of how they get there. They can win with pace and skill, but they can also win when the game tightens and turns into special teams and finish. Kaprizov and Boldy are driving the offense, and the Wild are getting scoring from the areas that matter most, not just point shots and rebounds.
The power play is the backbone of their betting profile. Thirty power-play goals puts them among the league leaders, and it keeps Minnesota live even on nights where their 5v5 looks are merely average. The other edge is on the defensive side: 93 goals against on the season is elite territory, and that gives them a path to win as a road dog even if Vegas controls stretches of the puck.
Check the Minnesota Wild injury report before you bet anything tied to depth or matchups. For form and team-level splits, start with Minnesota Wild stats and results.
Vegas Golden Knights Betting Form
Vegas is coming off a 6-5 loss to Colorado, and that result matters because it highlights both their upside and their current volatility. The Knights can score in bunches, and their power play is again a real weapon with 29 power-play goals. When they are getting clean entries and forcing penalty kills to collapse, they can put a game away fast.
The concern is what the injury list is doing to their structure. With key names out, Vegas can lean too hard on trading chances, and that is where they become a favorite that wins close more often than they separate. That is especially relevant if they are not at full strength on the blue line and cannot control second chances around the net.
Check the Vegas Golden Knights injury report because the availability picture impacts both side and total. For recent trends and home results, use Vegas Golden Knights schedule and stats.
Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights Matchup Breakdown
This is a clean travel spot for Minnesota with no back-to-back noted here, and Vegas is at home in a familiar setting. The handicap pivots to 5v5 pace, special teams, and whether either team can create separation in the middle of the ice. If Minnesota can keep this controlled and force Vegas into longer possessions, the Wild’s defensive profile plays up.
At 5v5, Minnesota’s edge is that they do not need chaos to score. Kaprizov and Boldy can create offense without the game opening up, and Minnesota’s ability to limit goals against means they are comfortable in a 2-2 game entering the third. Vegas prefers a little more tempo and will try to turn Minnesota’s breakouts into quick counters and drawn penalties.
Special teams looks like the loudest swing. Minnesota’s power play is slightly stronger on paper, but Vegas is right there and can punish any undisciplined minutes. If the whistles stay down, the matchup favors the team with the cleaner 5v5 detail and defensive consistency, and that points toward Minnesota keeping it tight.
Goalie status is the final key, and it is not something to guess. Vegas has Adin Hill listed out, so the starter needs to be confirmed before you commit heavily to a total. If Vegas is in a backup situation and the game stays wide open, the over becomes more attractive. If the crease holds up and Minnesota stays structured, 6.0 can land on a push or lean under.
Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights Predictions and Best Bets
I understand the Vegas price, but I do not see a major gap between these teams at the moment. Minnesota’s defense is legitimate, their power play can match Vegas, and they have the type of top-end scoring that travels. That makes the plus-money angle live, especially if this stays a low-penalty 5v5 game.
Still, the cleanest betting angle is usually to follow the most stable piece of information, and that is home ice with the more dynamic depth scoring. Vegas can win this even if they are not sharp defensively, because they have enough creators to steal a goal late and flip a one-goal game in the final five minutes.
On the total, I am cautious. Minnesota trends under for the season and can clamp down, but Vegas just played a 6-5 type of game and their injury situation can drive more broken plays. If the confirmed Vegas goalie is not their usual starter quality, 6.0 is a number that can get run over.
Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights moneyline (-122)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you want to compare your angle with the market consensus, start with today’s slate on the NHL picks page and see how the best bettors are attacking sides and totals. From there, you can filter for long-term performance in the best handicappers section instead of chasing short heaters.
For a quick read on who is actually delivering right now, the handicappers leaderboard is the fastest way to spot consistent profit. If you prefer packaged cards, you can also buy picks and cross-check other matchup writeups in the NHL previews hub.
If you are refining your process around totals, special teams, and goalie-driven volatility, the NHL betting guide is a strong framework. And for bettors thinking beyond tonight and into futures timing, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps map out when to shop prices and when to wait for better entry points.
