The NHL regular season continues with a Western Conference matchup on December 29, 2025, as the Minnesota Wild visit the Vegas Golden Knights. The Wild, riding a strong December with key contributions from Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov, aim to extend their recent success and solidify their playoff positioning. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights, dealing with injuries and a mixed form, look to rebound from a recent shootout loss and leverage their home-ice advantage at T-Mobile Arena. This contest could feature fast-paced action, with Minnesota’s defensive structure testing Vegas’ offensive depth in what has historically been a competitive series.
Venue Location
The game will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This state-of-the-art 17,500-capacity venue, located at 3780 South Las Vegas Boulevard on the Las Vegas Strip, opened in 2016 and is known for its modern amenities, including premium seating and a vibrant atmosphere that amplifies home-team energy.
Puckdrop is set for 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM PT for Vegas viewers)
Broadcast: Available on FanDuel Sports Network Midwest for Wild markets, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain for Golden Knights markets, and nationally via NHL Network and ESPN+.
Injury Report
Both teams are managing absences that could influence defensive pairings and forward rotations. Reports are as of December 28, 2025, with final statuses to be confirmed closer to puck drop.
Minnesota Wild:
Daemon Hunt (D): IR (undisclosed). Expected return around January 2, 2026, impacting blue-line depth.
No other major injuries reported, with stars like Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy fully available. The team has not submitted a final report, but forward lines appear intact.
Vegas Golden Knights:
Shea Theodore (D): Week-to-week (upper body). Out since December 13, a significant loss to the top defensive pair and power play.
Jack Eichel (C): Day-to-day (upper body). Missed recent games; questionable for December 29, potentially weakening center production.
Jakub Demek (C): IR (undisclosed). Long-term absence with minimal impact on the lineup.
No additional key injuries, but the Golden Knights have not fully submitted their report. Veterans like Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo are available.
These injuries may force Vegas to rely on younger defensemen, potentially opening up more scoring chances for Minnesota’s top line.
Player Matchups
This Pacific vs. Central showdown highlights offensive stars against defensive anchors, with injuries shifting responsibilities. Key matchups to watch:
Kirill Kaprizov (MIN LW) vs. Alex Pietrangelo (VGK D): Kaprizov’s dynamic scoring and playmaking (team-leading points) against Pietrangelo’s veteran shutdown defense. With Theodore out, Pietrangelo must contain Kaprizov’s rush to limit Minnesota’s top line.
Matt Boldy (MIN RW) vs. Mark Stone (VGK RW): Boldy’s recent hot streak (two goals in last game) vs. Stone’s two-way excellence and forechecking. Stone could disrupt Boldy’s zone entries, but Boldy’s shot volume may create rebounds.
Filip Gustavsson (MIN G) vs. Adin Hill (VGK G): Gustavsson’s consistency (.915 SV%) against Hill’s form. Hill must rebound from recent struggles to anchor a depleted blue line.
Joel Eriksson Ek (MIN C) vs. Tomas Hertl (VGK C): Eriksson Ek’s faceoff wins and physicality vs. Hertl’s scoring touch. This center matchup could control possession in the neutral zone.
Minnesota’s forward depth gives them an edge, but Vegas’ home energy could energize key players like Stone.
Minnesota ranks top-5 in goal differential and special teams, while Vegas excels at home but struggles with overtime losses.
Recent Team Forms
Minnesota is surging with recent overtime heroics, while Vegas is inconsistent following a shootout loss.
Minnesota Wild (Last 5 Games):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 27 | vs Winnipeg | W 4-3 OT | Boldy’s two goals; comeback win sealed by overtime heroics. nhl.com |
| Dec 21 | vs Colorado | W 5-1 | Dominant performance; strong defense limited Avs. nhl.com |
| Dec 20 | at Edmonton | L 2-5 | Offensive struggles; allowed five goals. nhl.com |
| Dec 17 | Unknown | W 5-0 | Shutout win; efficient scoring. espn.com.sg |
| Dec 16 | vs Washington | W 5-0 | Blowout; five goals and clean sheet. espn.com.sg |
Form: W-W-L-W-W (4-1 in last 5). The Wild are 7-3 in their last 10, with improved defense allowing under three goals per game recently.
Vegas Golden Knights (Last 5 Games):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 27 | vs Colorado | L 5-6 SO | Thrilling shootout loss; rallied multiple times but fell short. nhl.com +1 |
| Dec 21 | vs Edmonton | L | Narrow defeat; defensive lapses late. |
| Dec 5 | vs NJD | W 3-0 | Shutout win; strong goaltending. statmuse.com |
| Dec 7 | vs NYR | W 3-2 | Close victory; power play decisive. |
| Dec ? | Unknown | W | Part of 5-2-3 stretch. statmuse.com |
Form: L-L-W-W-W (3-2 in last 5). The Golden Knights are 5-2-3 in their last 10, with strong home performances but overtime issues.
Series History
The Vegas Golden Knights hold a 15-12-2 all-time edge over the Minnesota Wild in 29 regular-season meetings. Vegas has a 3-1-1 record in the last five games.
All-Time Head-to-Head: Vegas 15-12-2 (82 goals for Vegas, 78 for Minnesota).
Recent Games:
November 30, 2017: Knights win (early series).
February 2, 2018: Knights win.
Vegas is 0-1-0 in limited recent home vs. Wild, but overall trends favor close games.
Games average 5.6 goals, trending under in defensive battles.
Vegas’ recent success provides confidence, but Minnesota’s competitiveness adds intrigue.
Betting Trends
Minnesota Wild: 3-2 in last 5 games; 2-3 ATS in last 5; under hits in 3 of last 5 road games.
Vegas Golden Knights: 3-2 in last 5 games; 2-3 ATS in last 5; over hits in 4 of last 5 home games.
Head-to-Head Trends: Golden Knights 3-1-1 in last 5 vs. Wild; under 5.5 goals in 3 of 5 recent meetings.
League-Wide: Home favorites like Golden Knights are 55% ATS vs. strong road teams in December 2025.
Game Odds
Minnesota Wild 5.5
Vegas Golden Knights – 112
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 28, 2025
