The Montreal Canadiens head back to the Sunshine State for Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, April 29.
This juggernaut Atlantic Division series has become a best-of-three, with both teams snagging a crucial road win.
My Canadiens vs. Lightning predictions and NHL picks expect the Canadiens' usual suspects to rise to the occasion, along with some timely help by way of secondary scoring.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5 prediction
Canadiens vs Lightning best bet: Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists (-150)
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki has been one of the league's best playmakers all season and has registered four assists through four games in this series. He's garnered 11 apples in 12 April games, and his 72 assists in the regular season ranked fifth in the entire league.
The 101-point scorer has 10 assists in his last nine road games and will be heavily relied upon in a pivotal Game 5 in Tampa Bay.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5 same-game parlay
Lane Hutson has seemingly kicked into another gear in the absence of Noah Dobson.
The sophomore blue liner has compiled 10 shots on goal this series — more than he had in his previous 11 games combined. He's played over 26 minutes in every game of the series, peaking at 32:00 in Game 2.
He's everywhere, all the time, and has been firing on all cylinders this series.
Apart from the likely heroes in Suzuki, Hutson, and company, the Habs have welcomed some very timely secondary scoring. Zachary Bolduc has three points in this series and has fired seven shots on goal in his last three games.
The Quebecer makes up one-third of a formidable third line alongside Kirby Dach and Oliver Kapanen. At plus-odds, there's some serious value in a young, hometown kid making his presence felt.
Each of the last five games between these teams have been decided by a goal, with three needing extra time. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Lightning.
How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning Game 5
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, truTV, CBC
Canadiens vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Boston Bruins will be without second-line forward Viktor Arvidsson when they face elimination in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Without disclosing the nature of the injury, coach Marco Sturm said Arvidsson did not travel with the team. Arvidsson was hurt after being checked by Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson in the first period of Boston’s 6-1 loss on Sunday.
The Bruins trail the series 3-1, with Arvidsson scoring twice in Boston’s 4-2 victory in Game 2.
Sturm said forwards Michael Eyssimont and Alex Steeves are among the options to make their series debuts. The coach added veteran defenseman Henri Jokiharju will replace Jordan Harris and play his first game of the series.
“I think we are excited to bounce back,” Sturm said. “We want to show that last game that’s not really us.”
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will play Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of the teams' first-round playoff series.
McDavid, who led the NHL in points this season, did not participate in the team's morning skate ahead of a must-win game for Edmonton and was a game-time decision, according to coach Kris Knoblauch.
The 29-year-old McDavid has looked uncomfortable at times since rolling his ankle in the second period of Game 2 when he collided with teammate Mattias Ekholm.
The Oilers are trying to avoid elimination and rally from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series. Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup final in each of the last two seasons before losing to the two-time champion Florida Panthers.
Edmonton forward/center Jason Dickinson, also a game-time decision, was also in the lineup released shortly before gametime.
Knoblauch said earlier Tuesday that Connor Ingram would start in net after Tristan Jarry started in Game 4.
McDavid, who led the league with 138 points, scored his first goal in Game 3 and had his first multi-point games in the third and fourth games of the series in Anaheim. McDavid didn’t participate in Saturday’s off-day skate in Anaheim.
McDavid was nominated Tuesday for the Ted Lindsay Award, along with San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. The award is for the league’s “most outstanding player” as voted by NHL players. McDavid is a four-time winner.
Ingram returns to the Edmonton net on Tuesday after Jarry made 34 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 4. Ingram started the first three games of the series. He earned a 4-3 victory in Game 1 before allowing 11 goals in consecutive losses behind a leaky Edmonton defense.
“Nothing against Jarry,” Knoblauch said early Tuesday. “I thought he had a solid game the other night, but going down this last few weeks or months, Ingram’s been our starter. He’s been our guy. Now that our season’s on the line, we felt that we would go with our guy.”
Dickinson sat out the second and third games of the series due to injury. He scored twice in Edmonton’s win in the opener and assisted on the Oilers’ first goal in the Game 4 loss.
NEW YORK (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman offered his unequivocal support Tuesday for the ruling that upheld the Anaheim Ducks’ overtime goal against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.
“It wasn’t a controversy, it was absolutely the right call,” Bettman said in meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors at the NHL headquarters in New York City. “Because of the technology that we currently use and the cameras that we have inside the net, you could see it, knew for certain that it would be in and over the line.”
Bettman’s response comes two days after Ryan Poehling’s goal was extensively reviewed to determine whether it fully crossed the goal line, before being allowed to stand in a 4-3 win. The Ducks lead 3-1 and have a chance to clinch the series in playing Game 5 at Edmonton on Tuesday night.
Though on-ice officials ruled Poehling scored, questions were raised as to whether there was enough visible evidence to show the puck crossing the line 2:29 into overtime.
Poehling’s sharp-angle shot hit an Edmonton player’s skate in front and trickled under goalie Tristan Jarry. The puck creeped through Jarry’s legs, appearing to barely cross the goal line, though the top portion of the puck was hidden by the goalie’s skate blade.
NHL replay officials determined there was no reason to overturn the on-ice call.
“I thought I saw some white (between the puck and the goal line) when I was behind the net,” Poehling said. “Then everyone was celebrating. Did it go in? I’m like, ‘I think so?’ But yeah, I thought so right away.”
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch was not convinced.
“I can’t see it going in,” Knoblauch said. “I can’t see the line. ... The (initial) goal call on the ice was probably about 60 to 90 seconds after (the shot), maybe even more. They huddled when they got to center ice and then they made the (initial) call that it was a good goal. I don’t know. Wasn’t very definitive.”
Bettman on Tuesday said the NHL is currently testing technological advancements that would further assist replay officials in determining goals. He didn’t reveal any details or provide a timeline on when the technology would be introduced.
Anze Kopitar has been with the LA Kings for his entire career, and he has shown the hockey world just what that means. From his immediate impact as a rookie to helping the Kings capture 2 Stanley Cups in 3 seasons, and having his nation receive international success with him leading the way, Anze Kopitar has left a truly inspirational legacy and career-defining moments that nobody could have imagined.
Kopitar's Immediate Impact
Anze Kopitar was drafted by the Kings at 11th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, and he made his presence known in his first NHL career game. He debuted on October 6th 2006, on the road against the Anaheim Ducks. Kopitar would score his first NHL goal in that game after receiving a pass from Dustin Brown. Kopitar would rush down the wing and pass Chris Pronger before outwaiting Jean-Sebastien Giguere for his first NHL goal. Kopitar would score his 2nd career goal later that game, and that was just the beginning for Anze Kopitar.
Kopitar would finish his rookie season with 72 games played, 20 goals, 41 assists, and 61 points. Kopitar was the player the Kings needed to help get back to the playoffs and compete for a Stanley Cup.
In the early parts of Kopitar's career, he improved steadily as he reached career milestones early and often.
Some of Kopitar's Milestones in his early career were:
First Career Hat-Trick October 22 2009
100th NHL Goal January 28 2010
First Career Playoff Goal April 17th 2010
Anze Kopitar achieved all of these feats before the age of 24, and he was showing the entire NHL just how good a player he was becoming.
Playoff Experiences
In his first 3 seasons with the Kings, Kopitar did not make the playoffs, but in his 4th season, they qualified, and for Kopitar, it was his first time in the NHL competing for the Stanley Cup. The Kings would play the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, and while they would be eliminated in Game 6, Kopitar would have 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in those 6 games. While the Kings did not make the playoffs the following year, it would not be long before Kopitar and the Kings returned to the postseason.
Anze Kopitar and the Kings would make it back to the postseason in the 2011-2012 NHL season, where they would face the Vancouver Canucks in round 1. This time, the Kings would defeat them in 5 games, marking Anze Kopitar's first playoff series win.
In that same year, Anze Kopitar and the Kings would defeat the St. Louis Blues in 4 games, then the Phoenix Coyotes in 5 games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they would take on the New Jersey Devils. Anze Kopitar made an immediate impact in the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring the overtime-winning goal in game 1, and the Kings never looked back as they captured their franchise's first Stanley Cup after defeating the New Jersey Devils in 6 games.
Anze Kopitar was tied for the Playoff Point lead with fellow King Dustin Brown as they both had 20 points. That was not enough for Kopitar and the Kings, as 2 years after winning the Kings' first Stanley Cup, the Kings would make history once again.
In the first round of the 2013-2014 NHL playoffs, the Kings faced the San Jose Sharks, and after the first 3 games, they found themselves down 3-0 in the series. But the Kings would battle back to force a game 7, where Anze Kopitar would register the game-winning goal to complete the reverse sweep, a feat that has not happened in the NHL since.
What made this comeback even more legendary was that the Kings would find themselves in the Stanley Cup finals once again and capture their 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years, with Anze Kopitar leading the way with 26 playoff points. Kopitar was a key piece for the Kings 2 Stanley Cup runs, and he was slowly becoming a legend in the making.
International Success
While Kopitar was coming off 2 Stanley Cup wins in 3 seasons, he added another great feat to his hockey resume, helping Slovenia achieve its best-ever performance at the Olympics. In that tournament, Slovenia would defeat Slovakia 3-1 and secure their first-ever Olympic hockey win; they would also defeat Austria 4-0 and advance to their first-ever Olympic Quarterfinals.
Slovenia made history with its best-ever hockey showing, and they did it with only 1 NHL player on the roster: Anze Kopitar. Kopitar would finish the 2014 Olympics with 2 goals, 1 assist for 3 points in 5 games.
Kopitars Impact
While Anze Kopitar was a spectacular player on the ice, it was his off-ice character that had Kings and hockey fans alike admiring the type of person he is. Kopitar, throughout his career, would receive individual awards that showcased his skill, character, and the kind of person he was.
Kopitar would receive 2 Selke Trophies, which are awarded to a forward who best excels in the defensive aspect of the game, meaning that Kopitar was considered the best 2-way forward in the NHL. It shows just how much he wants to support his teammates with his play in every aspect of the game. Kopitar would also receive the Lady Byng Trophy 3 times in his career, an award given to a player who has shown the best type of sportsmanship alongside a high standard of playing ability.
Lastly, Kopitar would receive the Mark Messier Leadership Award, presented to a player who demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the ice and plays a leading role in their community to grow the game of hockey. What all of these awards say about Kopitar is how good a person, teammate, and player he truly is.
Anze Kopitar Career Awards:
Lady Byng: 2015-2016, 2022-2023, 2024-2025.
Frank J. Selke: 2015-2016, 2017-2018.
Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award: 2021-2022.
Becoming The Greatest King
While Anze Kopitar, throughout his career, showcased to the world just how elite he is for the Kings, he was slowly chasing down the Kings franchise history, and in the 2025-2026 NHL season, he rewrote it.
After already being the Kings' franchise leader in games played with 1521, Kopitar would have an opportunity to break another Kings record: the franchise points leader. Before this season, the Kings' point leader was Marcel Dionne, who had 1307 career points. But on March 14th 2026, Anze Kopitar would receive a pass from Artemi Panarin and redirect it past Jake Allen to pass Marcel Dionne for the Kings franchise point leader, and he would end the season with the point record at 1316.
Saying Goodbye
Anze Kopitar has had a Hall of Fame career with the Kings, playing his entire career with the team since being drafted in 2005. Anze Kopitar has set the standard for what it means to wear the LA Kings jersey, and not only will he be a future Hall of Famer, but he will also be, for many NHL fans, a true childhood hero.
To Anze Kopitar, thank you for all you have done for the Kings organization, and Enjoy Your Retirement as the Kings, NHL, and Hockey fans say Goodbye to one of the best to ever do it.
The offseason rumor mill is certainly a fun one to see churning.
This time of year is always especially juicy because while the season is over for some teams, others are still fighting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so you get storylines that are dripping with intrigue as players fight their guts out for one team with the looming concept of them moving on as soon as their season ends is hanging over everyone’s head.
Between trades and free agency, there will be plenty to keep track of as we make our way through the playoffs and into the NHL Draft before finally hitting free agency on July 1.
This week, NHL Insider David Pagnotta dropped a very interesting nugget while appearing on “Hello Hockey.”
According to Pagnotta, the Ottawa Senators could look into trading team captain Brady Tkachuk this offseason.
"I think there's a good chance the Sens explore trading Brady Tkachuk this summer," Pagnotta said. "And it’s for a variety of reasons. I don't think it's exclusively to do with the fact that he plays in Ottawa. I think there are different parameters for him that have factored into perhaps that personal decision."
If Tkachuk is indeed on the trade block, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Florida Panthers kick the tires on what it would take to swing a possible deal for the feisty forward.
Bringing the Tkachuk brothers together in South Florida would be quite the power move by Panthers General Manager Bill Zito.
Florida already plays an incredibly fast and physical brand of hockey, and it would seem Brady Tkachuk would be a good fit with his brother Matthew and the Panthers.
One of the biggest hurdles would seemingly be whether or not the Senators would be willing to trade Brady Tkachuk within the Atlantic Division.
Beyond that, the financial element of making a move for Brady Tkachuk work in South Florida would be interesting to see play out.
Brady has two years remaining on his current deal, which carries an Average Annual Value (AAV) of just over $8.2 million.
According to PuckPedia, the Panthers will head into the offseason with around $15.3 million in cap space to work with.
While Florida has 12 forwards and six defensemen under contract for next season, they need to shore up their goaltending situation.
Could Zito bring in Brady Tkachuk while still addressing the team’s need for goaltending?
A deal for Brady would likely have to include Florida’s 2026 first-round pick – which will be either the first, second, eighth, ninth or tenth overall depending how things shake out at next week’s NHL Draft Lottery – and some combination of NHL players or prospects.
The 26-year-old younger Tkachuk brother was the fourth overall pick by Ottawa at the 2018 NHL Draft and has played 572 games with the organization, racking up 213 goals and 463 points while developing into one of the league’s grittiest two-way forwards.
In the time since older brother Matthew Tkachuk was traded to the Panthers during the summer of 2022, there have been more than a few instances where the bothers have gotten a taste of what it would be like to play together at the highest level.
They skated on the same line during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, which just happened to take place in South Florida.
Then came the 4 Nations Face-Off in February of 2025, when the Tkachuk’s again skated on the same line for much of the tournament, leading Team USA to the gold medal match against Team Canada.
Perhaps the biggest and best example of what the two can accomplish together came during the 2026 Winer Olympics.
Matthew and Brady were two of the biggest faces for Team USA, helping the United States claim its first Olympic gold in ice hockey since 1980.
Will the brothers once again have the opportunity to put on the same sweater later this year?
Photo caption: Feb 4, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Atlantic Division forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the Florida Panthers fist bumps Atlantic Division forward Brady Tkachuk (71) of the Ottawa Senators during the second period of a semifinal game during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game at FLA Live Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)
For Utah Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny, Monday night’s collapse and comeback were inseparable.
His club spent the opening stretch chasing the game, then authored one of the fiercest rallies of the postseason before watching it slip away in overtime. In the end, resilience was not enough.
Mammoth Rally Falls Short in Overtime Heartbreaker
Utah erased a three-goal deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of its first-round series at Delta Center, only to suffer a crushing 5-4 overtime defeat.
After falling behind early, the Mammoth stormed back with four unanswered goals and seized a 4-3 lead in the third period, sending the Salt Lake City crowd into a frenzy. But Vegas answered with 10 minutes remaining, and Shea Theodore buried the winner in overtime to even the series.
It was a painful missed chance for Utah, which had an opportunity to grab a commanding 3-1 series advantage and put itself one win from the second round. Instead, the Golden Knights reclaimed home-ice advantage heading back to T-Mobile Arena for Game 5.
“Obviously, they had a great start,” Tourigny said afterward, per NHL.com's Matt Komma. “I liked the way we responded after their third goal. … Right away after that’s where we started rolling and got back in the game a little bit. So, I’m proud of the way our guys responded to adversity. That was a hard-fought game. We know how good they can be, and I think we responded well in the second half of the game.”
Utah Finds Its Game Too Late
The Mammoth looked sluggish early, generating only three shots in the first period before gradually finding their footing. By night’s end, Utah had fired 31 shots at Vegas goaltender Carter Hart and solved him four times.
Vegas countered with 36 shots of its own, and Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka will likely replay a few of those goals in the days ahead. Still, the Mammoth’s pushback reinforced why this series remains far from settled.
“I loved our fight. We're still playing confident,” captain Clayton Keller said after scoring Utah’s fourth goal. “We got down in the game but kept going. Everyone was contributing, and we got some momentum there from the fans as well. All in all, we fought well until the end. We'll learn from this game and still be really confident, for sure.”
Utah has already proven it can win in Las Vegas once this series. To regain control, it will need to do it again when Game 5 begins just after 10:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 26: Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm looks on from the bench during the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden on April 26, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Sabres defeat the Bruins 6-1. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to another night of Bruins hockey, folks!
Ideally, this isn’t the last one until October, but that’s up to the Bruins, not any of you.
(Unless you messed up one of your superstitions prior to Sunday, in which case it’s entirely possible this is all your fault.)
I am not an analytics expert, but my advanced models tell me that it would benefit the Bruins to NOT go down by six goals tonight.
Please do not steal my data without proper credit.
Anyways, let’s have fun out there.
Bruins! Sabres! In New York, which borders The Commonwealth!
Sandis Vilmanis completed his second professional season in North America, splitting his time between the Florida Panthers in the NHL and the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL.
Still, the 22-year-old found a way to be effective in both leagues.
In the AHL, Vilmanis was a play driver offensively. In 48 games, he scored 17 goals and 38 points, ranking third in both statistics despite missing a large chunk of the season.
In his rookie season in the AHL, Vilmanis showed flashes of what he could become despite being drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL draft, and his sophomore season proved many of his believers right.
When he was called up for 19 NHL games, Vilmanis skated on the fourth line, averaging just 10:24 of ice time, but he showed versatility in his game. His three goals and five points weren’t eye-catching, but he fired 15 shots on goal and threw 38 hits, showing little fear of the bright lights.
Vilmanis’ ability to contribute offensively, while being a physical force, is exactly what coach Paul Maurice wants in his bottom six, and it’s why he was rewarded with an extended stint while the Panthers navigated an onslaught of injuries.
With all things considered, the question is: Where should Vilmanis spend the 2026-27 season?
Vilmanis will remain exempt from waivers, which makes it challenging for the Latvian winger to maintain a spot in the NHL. Still, a strong training camp and pre-season would almost force the Panthers organization to start him in the NHL.
The Panthers struggled at 5-on-5, but Vilmanis won his minutes. According to naturalstattrick.com, the Panthers owned a Corsi For percentage of 53.73 percent, an expected goals percentage of 55.04 percent, and were even, seven goals for and seven goals against, with Vilmanis on the ice.
If Vilmanis can play his way onto the roster, deciphering where he should play will be the next challenge. It’s hard to envision him playing anywhere in the top nine given the current makeup of the roster, but he could regain his spot on the fourth line.
Ultimately, Vilmanis’ chances of making the roster depend on what GM Bill Zito does in the off-season. A.J. Greer and Tomas Nosek, two mainstays on the fourth line over the past couple of seasons, require contracts. If they are brought back, chances are Vilmanis won’t have a spot on the NHL roster. Additionally, Cole Schwindt was said to have earned the fourth-line center role, which gives Vilmanis another young competitor.
If they do not return, Zito and Maurice will be showing the trust they have in their youth, like Vilmanis, to be given the runway to earn that role.
Having too many depth options is a good problem for an organization to have, and it’s players like Vilmanis whose job is to give them that issue.
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The Anaheim Ducks have pushed the reigning two-time Western Conference champions to the brink of elimination in the first round ... and the Oilers may have to fight for their playoff lives without their best player.
Connor McDavid is a "game-time decision" for Game 5 against the Ducks, head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters after the Oilers' captain did not take part in the team's morning skate.
It's not entirely clear what McDavid is dealing with, but the six-time scoring champ did leave Game 2 of this series with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.
He's played in all four games, though the April 26 overtime contest saw him log his least amount of ice time so far (19:32). He still recorded two points in that game, and had two on April 24 — both Oilers losses that dropped them in a 3-1 hole.
"We do have some guys who are banged up, and they continue to play and do the best they can do," Knoblauch said, per ESPN. "Ultimately, everyone has to step it up a little bit. Playoffs are a tough time to play. It's tight checking, there's not much room... right now, we need those guys who are healthy to pick up the slack for the guys who can't play like they want to."
This story will be updated when McDavid's status is clear.
The Battle of Pennsylvania is a battle again, with the Pittsburgh Penguins heading to Xfinity Mobile Arena to face the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of their opening-round series Wednesday, April 29.
My top Penguins vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks are calling for another low-scoring bout between the division rivals.
Penguins vs Flyers best bet: First period Under 1.5 goals (+100)
Goals have been at a particular premium during the first period of this low-scoring series.
So, while I initially leaned to the Under 5.5 (+100), I think this first-period Under is the better play because there’s always potential for an early goalie pull in an elimination game.
I also value the Pittsburgh goalie switch to Arturs Silovs. He’s sporting a rock-solid .920 save percentage with 1.75 goals saved above expected across his two starts.
Penguins vs Flyers Game 6 same-game parlay
While I do think Silovs will play well in Game 6, his body of work suggests maintaining a .920 SV% and 0.702 GSAx per 60 minutes is asking too much. He finished the regular season with respective .887% and -0.318 marks across 39 games, after all.
Additionally, while difficult to quantify, the go-to Penguins are far older than the best players jumping the boards for the Flyers. So, I expect the physical toll of the series to catch up to Pittsburgh in its third consecutive elimination game.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Philly defenseman Jamie Drysdale has quietly had a strong postseason and recorded two or more shots in each of the past three games while averaging a respectable 20:15 per night for the series.
The Philadelphia Flyers have won 17 of their last 25 games (+12.95 Units / 47% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Flyers.
How to watch Penguins vs Flyers Game 6
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Penguins vs Flyers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Pavel Dorofeyev was promoted to the top line in Game 4 and responded with his best performance of the series.
My Mammoth vs. Golden Knights predictions expect another productive outing from Vegas’ leading goal scorer.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Wednesday, April 29.
Mammoth vs Golden Knights Game 5 prediction
Mammoth vs Golden Knights best bet: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots (-150)
Pavel Dorofeyev’s shot volume has risen throughout the series. He attempted only three shots in Game 1, but has responded by clearing his line in three consecutive games.
His highest output came in Game 4, with Dorofeyev generating seven attempts, four shots, and scoring a goal. That spike coincided with a promotion to the Vegas Golden Knights' top line, riding shotgun with Jack Eichel.
He should have confidence after finding the back of the net, and the circumstances are favorable as well.
Dorofeyev has cleared 2.5 shots in 74% of his home games following one day of rest this season.
Mammoth vs Golden Knights Game 5 same-game parlay
Lawson Crouse is playing big minutes on the Utah Mammoth's top line, logging at least 17 minutes in all four games. He cleared 1.5 shots in eight of the past 10 games in which he logged 17+ minutes, and had a healthy five shot attempts in one of the exceptions.
Sticking with the Mammoth, Dylan Guenther has shot the lights out in his first taste of playoff action. He's attempted at least nine shots in all four games, averaging five on target and 11 attempts.
The Mammoth will lean heavily on their sniper in a pivotal swing game.
Mammoth vs Golden Knights SGP
Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots
Lawson Crouse Over 1.5 shots
Dylan Guenther Over 3.5 shots
Mammoth vs Golden Knights odds for Game 5
Moneyline: Mammoth +135 | Golden Knights -155
Puck Line: Mammoth +1.5 (-180) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+155)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)
Mammoth vs Golden Knights trend
Pavel Dorofeyev recorded three or more shots in 13 of his last 16 home games after one day of rest. Find more NHL betting trends for Mammoth vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Mammoth vs Golden Knights Game 5
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, truTV
Mammoth vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
With the series suddenly reduced to a best-of-three, the Utah Mammoth are turning Salt Lake City into playoff central for a pivotal Game 5 showdown against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Utah Mammoth announced they will host a free public watch party Wednesday night outside Delta Center as fans gather to watch Game 5 live from Las Vegas on a massive outdoor screen. With the first-round series tied 2-2, the atmosphere in downtown Salt Lake City is expected to mirror the urgency of the moment.
The event begins at 7:30 p.m. on SeatGeek Plaza and will feature a live DJ, food and drink options, a beer garden, the team’s hype crew, and access to the Team Store throughout the night. No tickets or advance reservations are required.
Utah enters Game 5 after a crushing overtime loss Monday night, when Vegas Golden Knights evened the series at two wins apiece. Now the Mammoth head back to T-Mobile Arena looking to reclaim momentum in what has quickly become one of the tighter matchups of the opening round.
While Vegas Golden Knights bring a resume built on deep postseason runs, Utah’s veteran core has helped steady a franchise navigating its first playoff appearance under the Mammoth identity.
Puck drop for Game 5 is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday in Las Vegas.
But in these NHL playoffs, has it all caught up to him? Through five games of the Flyers’ best-of-seven first-round matchup with the Penguins, Foerster hasn’t recorded a point. Despite playing 17:22 minutes per game, he has just seven shots.
With the series heading into a Game 6, the Flyers could use Foerster’s goal-scoring punch.
“He’s a really good hockey player, we’re trying to stick with him,” Rick Tocchet said Tuesday. “It’s [not just] him; we’ve got some other guys there that we need a little bit more from. But it is tough, hitting the wall, to be able to play at that pace and all that sort of stuff, maybe he has hit the wall a little bit.
“But 24 hours or 36 hours off, reset your brain, can do wonders for a guy. And usually guys like that, they find their way. We’re not giving up on Tyson, he’s too good of a hockey player.”
It’s true that the Flyers need others to answer the bell, too. Their top four goal scorers from the regular season — Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov — have combined for three goals and 21 shots. One of the goals was an empty-netter and another was on the power play.
The Flyers will have to decide if they want to get Michkov back in the lineup Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET/NBCSP). The 21-year-old winger was a healthy scratch in Game 5 after going scoreless through the first four games of the series.
With Foerster, the Flyers feel they can still rely on him as one of their better defensive forwards. In the series, he has been on the ice for only one even-strength goal against and has played 1:40 minutes per game on the penalty kill.
“I think goal scorers get streaky,” Sean Couturier said. “At the same time, I think he has been a pretty big part of our PK, so he’s killing some penalties, he has been a part of that success. So he’s contributing in other ways.
“Obviously I’m sure he’d like to score. Not just him; myself, a couple of guys, I’m sure we want to find the puck in the back of the net a little bit more. I think the key, really, is sticking to our game, the way we want to play and not start forcing things and opening up because that could get ugly.”
The Flyers were not a high-end goal-scoring team in the regular season. Instead, down the stretch, they were one of the stingiest clubs. After giving up seven goals over Games 4 and 5, both losses, the Flyers will try to dictate play more in Game 6.
They’re back home with a 3-2 series lead and another opportunity to eliminate Pittsburgh.
“I think we still just have a great opportunity ahead of us here tomorrow,” Christian Dvorak said. “We’re still in a good spot, still up in the series and have a chance to close out at home.”
And Foerster has a chance to put his mark on the series.
A former Buffalo Sabres forward is officially hanging up the skates.
The NHL Alumni's official X account shared that former Sabres forward Linus Omark has announced his retirement from professional hockey.
Omark finished off his NHL career during the 2013-14 season with the Sabres. In 13 games with the Sabres that season, he posted two assists, three hits, and six penalty minutes.
Following his time with the Sabres, Omark had a long career overseas, where he spent time in leagues like SHL, KHL, and Switzerland's National League. The 39-year-old forward was still solid this campaign overseas, too. In 15 games with HC Lugano of the NL, he had four goals and 11 points. He also had five goals and 16 points in 29 games for Lulea HF of the SHL this campaign.
Omark was selected by the Edmonton Oilers with the 97th overall pick of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In 79 career games over three NHL seasons split between the Oilers and Sabres, he had eight goals, 24 assists, and 32 points.
