Thursday night brings a useful betting test in the Western Conference as Utah heads to Las Vegas for the last game of the season set between these clubs. Utah enters off a sharp 6-3 road win over Dallas, a result that ended the Stars’ long point streak and gave the Mammoth a needed jolt after a rough stretch. Vegas is back on home ice after a 2-0 loss to Buffalo, and the Golden Knights are trying to steady their place in a packed Pacific race. This is a spot where the market has made Vegas a modest home favorite, yet the gap between these teams is narrower than the line might suggest. Utah has been the steadier defensive side over the full season, while Vegas still carries the more dangerous top-end attack and the stronger power play. That contrast makes this game especially interesting for NHL bettors deciding between the side and the total.
Game Snapshot Utah vs Vegas
- Matchup: Utah Mammoth @ Vegas Golden Knights
- Date & Time: March 19, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Broadcast: Hulu and ESPN+
| Market | Utah Mammoth | Vegas Golden Knights | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odds | +1.5 at -235 and moneyline +114 | -1.5 at +186 and moneyline -137 | 6.5 with over +116 and under -142 |
Key Storylines
Utah comes in with the better overall record at 35-27-6, while Vegas sits at 31-23-14. The standings pressure is real on both sides. Utah is trying to stay in the thick of the playoff push in the Central race and wildcard picture. Vegas is fighting for position in the Pacific, where every point matters because the Ducks and Oilers are close enough to turn one bad week into a real slide.
The form line is mixed. Utah is 4-4-2 over its last 10 games, but the latest result matters here because it showed real life. Scoring 6 on Dallas on the road is not an ordinary night, and it came with balanced offense rather than one hot line carrying the load. Vegas has gone 3-7-0 over its last 10. The Golden Knights did beat Pittsburgh 6 to 2 and Chicago 4 to 0 before getting blanked by Buffalo, so there have been signs of a rebound, though the full body of work still leans cold.
In net, Utah has the cleaner edge if Karel Vejmelka gets the call. He has posted 27 wins with a 2.58 goals against average and a .902 save rate. Vegas likely turns to Adin Hill, who has a 3.05 goals against average and a .871 save rate. That is a major split for bettors because Utah has allowed 2.81 goals per game this season, while Vegas has allowed 3.08.
Injury news is also worth tracking close to puck drop. Utah has been dealing with Kevin Stenlund as day to day. Vegas entered the pregame window with no major active injuries listed on the broad report, which is helpful for a team leaning hard on top-six scoring and power-play finishers.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
The season series is tied 1-1. Vegas won the first meeting 4-1 on November 20, and Utah answered with a 5-1 win on November 24. That split keeps this from looking like a clear stylistic edge for either side.
- Utah record: 35-27-6
- Vegas record: 31-23-14
- Utah ATS record: 30-38
- Vegas ATS record: 27-41
- Utah O U record: 33-34-1
- Vegas O U record: 34-30-4
- Utah road record: 16-16-3
- Vegas home record: 16-11-7
Those trend lines show why this price range feels fair but not cheap on Vegas. Utah has been a break-even road team, which is acceptable in this type of underdog role. Vegas has been good, not dominant, at home. From a totals view, Utah games have landed near even, while Vegas has leaned a little more to higher scores over the long run. Still, the current total asks whether Utah can drag this into a tighter script with its better goaltending profile.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Jack Eichel | Over 3.5 shots on goal |
| Clayton Keller | Over 0.5 points |
| Pavel Dorofeyev | Anytime goal scorer |
| Karel Vejmelka | Over saves |
Eichel remains the engine of the Vegas offense with 74 points in 59 games and one of the strongest shot rates on the club. Dorofeyev leads Vegas with 34 goals and has been the cleanest finisher on the roster. On the Utah side, Clayton Keller has 65 points and 45 assists, making him the safest point-based option if Utah gets on the board early. Dylan Guenther has supplied 33 goals, but Keller is the more reliable all-situations creator. If Vejmelka starts, his save prop deserves a long look because Vegas still generates enough pressure at home to give him volume.
Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights Pick & Model Projection
ATS PRO
- Score Projection: Utah Mammoth 2 – Vegas Golden Knights 3
- Pick: Under 6.5
- Confidence: 3 out of 5
- Win Probability: Utah Mammoth 45%, Vegas Golden Knights 55%
This game sets up as a close one, and the side is tougher than the total. Vegas has the stronger special teams profile with a power play near the top of the league, and home ice still matters here. Utah has been the better defensive club over the full season and owns the better goaltending numbers, which is why laying a puck line with Vegas does not appeal much. The cleaner betting path is the under.
The market has hung 6.5, yet several indicators point to a game that stays a touch lower. Utah allows fewer than 3 goals per game, Vegas is coming off a shutout loss, and both teams know the value of a standings point this late in March. Add in the fact that these teams split the season set with scores of 4-1 and 5-1, and it is easy to see a game that spends long stretches at even strength without opening up too far. My lean is Vegas to win a tight contest on home ice, but the stronger call is under 6.5 with a projected 3-2 finish.
