NHL: Mammoth vs. Knights Game 1 Picks and Odds | April 19, 2026
Written by: Nick Zanghi
Published: Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:34 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Now we head to the Western Conference for a Game 1. The Utah Mammoth will take on the Vegas Golden Knights for a seven-game series. These two teams met three times this season and the Mammoth took the series 2-1.
Vegas went 39-26-17 this season and finished first in the Pacific Division. They finished the season off on a three-game winning streak with another win on Wednesday over the Kraken. The Knights went 7-3-0 in their last ten games and 20-12-9 at home.
If it wasn't for all the overtime losses, Vegas could've been in the top of the league. They just squeaked out first place from the Oilers but would've been a wild card spot if in the Central. Now, there is no room for that in the playoffs, so they need to get right in regulation.
In the last two games they played, Vegas was outscored 9-1 by Utah. This is obviously a huge problem for the Knights as they cannot let this happen. They only ranked middle of the league for goals scored per game and goals allowed per game.
Goalie Cater Hart is expected to get the start. He went 11-3-3 this season with a 2.71 GAA and a .891 save percentage. Hart has won his last seven starts and is 7-2-1 in this last ten starts. The momentum won him the starting role for today.
Check out the odds for this matchup and other NHL games at the best online sportsbooks.
Utah makes its first ever playoff appearance tonight
Knight defenseman Shea Theodore moves the puck around Mammoth forward Logan Cooley.
Utah went 43-33-6 this season and finished fourth in the Central Division. They ended the season off a loss to the Blues on Thursday. The Mammoth finished 6-4-0 in their last ten games and were 22-16-3 this season on the road.
Considering the division they're in, Utah had a really good season. They almost broke the 100-point mark in just their second season as a franchise. This is their first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs as well, so they're going to come into this game hyped.
Their offense got the job done even though they ranked toward the bottom of the league for shots on goal per game and power play conversion. Defense is where they stand their ground. Utah ranked in the top ten for goals allowed and shots on goal allowed per game.
In net, we're expected to see Karel Vejmelka. He went 38-20-3 this season with a 2.75 GAA and a .897 save percentage. Let's check out the odds and get into the Mammoth vs. Knights Game 1 picks.
Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Odds and Game Information
Mammoth vs. Knights Betting Odds – April 19
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Mammoth | +1.5 (-200) | +130 | Over 5.5 (-135) |
| Vegas Golden Knights | -1.5 (+165) | -150 | Under 5.5 (+115) |
Odds courtesy of Lucky Rebel – Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up
Mammoth vs. Knights Game Information
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- Date: Sunday April 19, 2026
- Puck Drop: 10 p.m. EST
- TV: ESPN, SCRIPPS, Utah16, TVAS
Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Prediction
Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev takes a shot on Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka.
Mammoth vs. Knights Picks and Predictions: Game Total Under 5.5 Goals (+115) Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up with Lucky Rebel
I'm going with a different angle here. I'm not sure who wins this game to be honest, but I think we see an under. Utah shutout Vegas in the last game they played, so you know they'll be trying to shut them down. I think we see a chess match and a Utah team who will struggle to score.
It should be a very competitive game in the end, but if Vegas gives them a hard time scoring – then this game is going under. Each team, especially Utah, are going to try to not make any stupid mistakes that give up goals.
One player I like for this game is the man in the picture, Pavel Dorofeyev. I like for him to get 3 or more shots on goal as he is such a big piece of this offense. Guys like him, Eichel and Stone need to come to play if they want to win and I expect Pavel to be firing.
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Nick Zanghi
Nick Zanghi is an avid hockey fan who loves to bet on the NHL Props. He has also found a liking for the WNBA. Born and raised on LI, NZ is a lifelong Islanders #isles fan and a new NY Liberty fan #LIGHTITUPNYL. When not watching or attending sporting events, he enjoys grilling and time with his wife and kids.
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