Stars vs Golden Knights Final Betting Preview: A Lot Changed In Three Years

Vegas Favored By Series Betting Odds

A lot has changed since the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars met in the 2020 Western Conference Finals. Dallas prevailed 4-1 to return to the Stanley Cup Finals. But now, Vegas is favored per the odds for the Stars vs Knights Final betting preview. Vegas, the higher seed, has a home-ice advantage and is at -145 to win the series. But Dallas, at +125, may just repeat what happened three years ago.

New Goaltenders Since Stars and Knights Last met

Three years is apparently “forever” in the world of the NHL. Dallas and Vegas have several core member players from their 2020 serie. But the main difference per this Stars vs Knights Final betting preview are their different goaltenders. In the place of Anton Khudobin and Robin Lehner are Jake Oettinger and Adin Hill.

The former has been nigh unbeatable against Vegas with a perfect 4-0-0 record. He’s stopped 120 of the 125 shots he’s faced for a whopping 96 save percentage (SV%) and 1.18 goals allowed average (GAA). Hill is no slouch either and was a difference-maker against Edmonton this postseason as he allowed just nine goals in 136 shots he faced (93.4 SV%).

“(Hill) was incredible,” Knights defenseman Nic Hague told the Las Vegas Review-Journal following the team’s series-clinching victory over the Oilers. “We knew we were going to need a few big saves. They weren’t going away and definitely had a push. And when we broke down, Hill came up with a handful and kept (the puck) out. That made us feel good and confident that we could close that game out.”

Hill’s stellar play is partly why the NHL playoff odds favor the Knights even against Oettinger While Hill did not face Dallas this NHL season, he’s the “fresher” of the two goalies and that may work to his advantage. He may also have the edge in terms of the skaters in front of him.

Stars and Knights Skaters Know How to Finish

The Golden Knights typically got bounced out of the playoffs because their offense would get neutralized. Against Dallas in 2020, the Knights failed to score more than two goals in their four losses.

But with Bruce Cassidy now coaching the team, the Knights have improved their offense and returned to the top of the NHL standings for 2022-23. In turn, they lead the playoffs on a 5-on-5 shooting percentage at 11.9 percent. This is despite getting outshot and outchanced in many instances.

Mark Stone has emerged as a Conn Smythe Trophy contender with 12 points in 11 games with Vegas. He was neutralized in 2020 against Dallas being held scoreless in four of the team’s five games. Chandler Stephenson, his linemate, has improved since 2020. And Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo are now with the team.

Eichel leads the Knights with 14 points and he’s become a solid two-way player for Vegas. Pietrangelo has been a lynchpin for the team’s offense on the blueline.

Vegas will not only need to outscore Dallas but neutralize one of their deadliest scorers: Roope Hintz. The Finn has been on fire for Dallas this postseason with nine goals and 19 points in 13 games. He had just one assist in the 2020 series against Vegas. But he’s a much better player now and could be the star (no pun intended) in this Stars vs Knights Final betting preview.

Both Vegas and Dallas have talented players with two-way capabilities. Each time can light the other up or shut the other down. But the consensus is this will be a low-scoring series as the total, set at 5.5, is already being bet to go under. All five games in their 2020 series went under 5.5 goals.

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