Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Game 6 Preview, Picks & Odds for Friday, May, 1, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | May 01, 2026, 7:47am

In an exciting thriller from start to finish, the Vegas Golden Knights were able to secure the win in game five in double overtime. The Golden Knights result in Expected Goals showed it was as tight as possible, edging out the Utah Mammoth 3.26-3.03.

With Vegas just one win away from moving on to the second round, their defense must continue to play at a high level if they want to close out the series. Especially with their front line struggling to find their footing, making it vital the Golden Knights can keep the Mammoth out of their net to help pull away on the scoreboard.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Betting Analysis

Since the start of the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights back line have been able to thrive, ranking near the top of the board in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Their suffocating coverage makes it tough for opposing front lines to pressure their net, drastically reducing the amount of negative variance in their contests in the process.

In their first round matchup against Utah, the Golden Knights back line have been able to build on their momentum, taking advantage of a Mammoth offense who ranks dead last in Expected Goals For. Even with the Mammoth fielding six players who average over 0.25 Expected Goals per game, their drop off in production to their bottom lines makes it tough for them to pressure the net for the full duration of the contests, leading to prolonged scoring lulls.

Unfortunately for the Golden Knights, their suffocating coverage has not been enough for Carter Hart to play at a competitive level as he is currently averaging 3.02 Goals Against per game and a .888 Save Percentage. With Hart struggling to hold his own, this has evened the playing field in the Mammoth’s favor, making it easier for them to keep it uncomfortably close.

The Golden Knights ability to hold the Mammoth off the board is even more important when factoring in their regression on offense, fielding a front line who continues to dip down the board in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Especially with wear and tear slowly affecting their speed on the ice, lowering the quality of their Shots on Goal when they are unable to break away from the Mammoth’s coverage.

With Utah lacking the aggression that is needed to break through the Golden Knights back line, expect the Mammoth to struggle to score and be held under their team total. If you want some more security at the expense of potential profits, you can also bet the under on the Mammoth team total at a flat three.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Mammoth U2.5 (+120)
Score Prediction: G’Knights 4, Mammoth 2

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Game Odds

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Game Information

Date: Friday, May 1, 2026
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Network: ESPN
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Venue: Delta Center – 6.4 goals per game; 23-17-3 O/U
Series Score: G’Knights 3-2

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Betting Resources

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth Key Players

Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel – Last Game: (0 Goals, 2 Assists, 5 Shots on Goal)
Pavel Dorofeyev – Last Game: (3 Goals, 0 Assists, 5 Shots on Goal)
Carter Hart – Last Game: (4 Goals Against, 34 Saves)

Utah Mammoth

Clayton Keller – Last Game: (0 Goals, 2 Assists, 4 Shots on Goal)
Dylan Guenther – Last Game: (1 Goal, 0 Assists, 6 Shots on Goal)
Karel Vejmelka – Last Game: (5 Goals Against, 31 Saves)

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.