Venue: Xcel Energy Center.
Game 6. The score in the series is 3-2.
Wild unexpectedly won the 6th match in the series with Vegas, beating Peter DeBoer’s team 4-2 away. However, even with another win, Minnesota would still have to play Game 7 on their opponent’s ice. At the same time, the Golden Knights can hardly expect to drag out their series until Game 7, especially in St. Paul. Will Vegas be able to close out the series, or will Minnesota beat the Knights again?
Minnesota’s current form
With their 0-4 defeat in the 4th, the Wild calmed their opponent down so much that Vegas, having also opened the scoring in Game 5 at home, simply gave up on the game. The Wild, of course, took advantage - 3 pucks in 7 minutes by Kaprizov, Parise and Greenway - and then all they had to do was hold on to the lead. Minnesota can play a passive defense, so Vegas managed only 1 goal on 40 shots on goal. Nico Sturm put it into the empty net, 4-2.
The Wild themselves took only 14 shots on goal all game. Vegas can be so powerful that any counter-attack has to be ruled out. Whether Dean Evason’s team can withstand a second consecutive game in this fashion is a big question. Defending is notoriously more energy-consuming than attacking.
Vegas’ current form
In fact, in Game 5, Minnesota didn’t show much. Vegas took the lead in the 9th minute, with Mark Stone scoring, and after the goal, they switched off for some reason. After conceding three goals, of course, Golden Knights had to turn back on, but they simply lacked the time and accuracy. They will have to play again, although they could already be preparing for a super fight with Colorado.
Expert Betting Tips
After losing the first game of the series, it was no coincidence that Vegas convincingly won the next three games - they were completely different opponents. It’s Peter DeBoer’s team’s fault for not being able to close the contest in Game 5 at home. This will surely have an impact on the series with Colorado, which, without losing a single game to St. Louis, have long been recovering and preparing to meet with Vegas, but now against Minnesota. A failure will only force the Golden Knights to act more focused. Vegas will upset the Wild on their ice for the third consecutive time and close out the series.
Betting options:
- Vegas to win with a handicap (-1.0) with odds of about 2.50;
- Vegas to win and Total Under 5.5 for 4.00;
- Minnesota’s Individual Total Under 2.5 for 1.80.