The Minnesota Wild host the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series at Xcel Energy Center, holding a 2-1 edge. Vegas dropped Game 3 in a 5-2 road loss, while Minnesota has now taken back-to-back wins by the same score after dropping the series opener. Vegas looks to even things up before heading back to the desert. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

The Vegas Golden Knights are in a must-win spot after getting outscored 10-4 in the last two games. In Game 3, the offense never found rhythm, and the defense was slow in transition. Jack Eichel has been the engine of this team all season, stacking up 94 points on 28 goals and 66 assists. Pavel Dorofeyev leads with 35 goals and 13 power-play tallies. Vegas plays fast and shoots often, averaging 30.2 shots per game, and they’ve got a strong power play unit converting at 28.3%.

Defensively, Vegas needs to clean things up after allowing five goals in consecutive games. The penalty kill is holding at 75.7% but has been inconsistent in this series. They allow just 2.61 goals per game, and Adin Hill has anchored the crease with 32 wins and a 2.47 GAA, backed by a .906 save percentage. No injuries in the report give Vegas a full roster to fight with, but they must tighten up in front of the net and stay out of the box.

Minnesota is rolling right now with momentum and crowd energy. They’ve won four of the last five and have handled Vegas physically and tactically in the last two games. Matt Boldy has been huge with 73 points, including 27 goals and 46 assists. The Wild are not flashy on offense, scoring 2.74 per game, but they’ve been opportunistic and smart with the puck. They’ve only allowed four goals in the last two games.

Defensively, Minnesota has been sharper and more disciplined. They’re allowing 2.88 goals per game and have a penalty kill rate of 72.4%, though that’s an area of concern if Vegas finds its rhythm. Filip Gustavsson has been strong in net with 31 wins, 2.56 GAA, and a .914 save percentage. With Marcus Johansson questionable, Minnesota is still mostly healthy and confident heading into this key matchup.

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