Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Predictions April 24th 2025

Golden Knights, Wild Zero In on Game 3 in Tight Opening-Round Series

With the series now tied 1-1, the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild are setting their sights squarely on Game 3 — a crucial matchup that could tip the balance in this fiercely contested first-round clash. As the series shifts to Saint Paul, both teams are pledging to remain focused on the immediate challenge rather than the bigger picture.

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A Best-of-Five from Here On Out

After splitting the opening games in Las Vegas, the series now transforms into a best-of-five showdown, with the Wild holding home-ice advantage moving forward. For Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, the message to his team is simple — stay in the present.

“We’re not going to talk about history and all that stuff,” Cassidy said. “It’s 1-1. These guys have been in enough playoff series to know that it’s a best-of-five now… But we’re much more worried about Game 3 than worried about the whole series right now.”

The emphasis is on precision and discipline — and most importantly, avoiding costly mistakes with the puck.

“It’s a game of mistakes, so you’ll never be perfect,” Cassidy continued. “But we have to be better in certain areas with the decisions we make with the puck. That should be the first thing that will get us back on track.”

Kaprizov, Boldy Leading the Charge for Minnesota

For the Wild, Game 2 was a confidence-booster, and much of that came from the dynamic duo of Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. Kaprizov has contributed two goals and three assists so far, while Boldy leads the team with three goals. Forward Ryan Hartman has added a pair of assists, but overall, scoring depth remains a concern for Minnesota.

Coach John Hynes remains cautiously optimistic and hinted at some potential lineup adjustments ahead of Game 3.

“We know how we need to play to be a successful team,” Hynes said. “Now, we’ve got to stay consistent with that and build on that… We may look at some different things, possibly.”

Whether it’s tweaking the defensive pairings or inserting fresh legs, Minnesota seems willing to adapt as the series unfolds.

Offensive Contributors for Vegas

Vegas is relying on its balanced attack, with Tomas Hertl emerging as a standout performer through two games, posting two goals and an assist. He’s been supported by Brett Howden, who’s notched two goals, and defenseman Noah Hanifin, who has chipped in with a goal and an assist.

If the Golden Knights can limit turnovers and clean up their puck decisions, they may regain the momentum they established in Game 1.

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For those closely watching NHL predictions, this series has been a chess match of adjustments, with neither team giving much ground. If you’re analyzing trends, lineups, and momentum, you’ll want to dive into these latest NHL picks to gain an edge.

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Goaltending Battle Remains Close

The goaltending duel has also been evenly matched. Vegas netminder Adin Hill enters Game 3 with a 1-1 record, a 3.03 goals-against average, and an .833 save percentage. Meanwhile, Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson has posted slightly better stats, with a 2.52 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

As the pressure ramps up, whichever netminder can elevate their game may become the x-factor in what has already been a tight series.