Game 2 of this Western Conference first-round series arrives on Tuesday night with the Vegas Golden Knights holding a 1-0 edge after a 4-2 comeback win in the opener against the Utah Mammoth. Utah showed plenty of promise in that first outing, dominating play for stretches and even leading midway through the game before Vegas surged late with three unanswered goals. Now the Mammoth face an important spot on the road, while the Golden Knights look to press their advantage in Mammoth vs Golden Knights Game 2.
Mammoth vs Golden Knights Game 2 Pick
- Pick: Vegas Golden Knights ML (-155)
- Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights
- Date & Time: Tuesday, April 21, 9:30 PM
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- Broadcast: ESPN2
Key Storylines
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Vegas enters Game 2 in excellent form, winning four straight games, including the opener of this series. Utah has dropped four of its last five games between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. The Golden Knights have been especially reliable at home, posting a 21-12-9 record between the regular season and start of the playoffs.
Goaltending
Karel Vejmelka handled the crease in Game 1 for Utah, stopping 27 of 30 shots for a .900 save percentage. He was solid but not spectacular, and Utah may need a higher level performance to even the series. On the other side, Vegas received a strong outing from netminder Carter Hart, who saved 31 of the 33 shots that he faced for a save percentage of .939.
Key skaters
Utah’s goals in Game 1 came from Logan Cooley and Kevin Stenlund. But the duo of Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther have to be more of a threat in Game 2, especially with Keller coming off a 40-goal regular season. Mark Stone notched his first goal of this postseason for the Knights in Game 1, with Mitch Marner assisting him. If Jack Eichel can produce his first playoff points in this contest, that could be bad news for Utah.
Betting Trends & H2H
- These teams are 2-2 against each other this season after Vegas evened their season series in Game 1.
- The first game of this series went over the total with 6 total goals scored.
- All four games between these teams this year have seen 6 or fewer total goals.
Mammoth vs Golden Knights Game 2 Model Projection
- Score Projection: Utah Mammoth 2 – Vegas Golden Knights 4
- Win Probability: Utah Mammoth 42%, Vegas Golden Knights 58%
In Game 1, Utah created chances and carried play at times, but Vegas stayed composed and capitalized when it mattered most. The gap in experience between these teams, especially late in games, is difficult to ignore. The Golden Knights also benefit from a deeper lineup and a defensive lineup that typically limits high-quality looks. My projections make the Golden Knights the play for this contest once again, as they should take a 2-0 series lead to Utah, where the Mammoth will hope that home ice advantage will help them get back on track.
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