Vegas Visits Dallas in Defense of its Stanley Cup
Golden Knights vs Stars Odds Have the Champs as Underdogs
NHL Playoffs: (1) Vegas Golden Knights vs Dallas Stars
The Vegas Golden Knights start their defense of the Stanley Cup against the top-seeded Dallas Stars. The champs are underdogs given the the Knights vs Stars odds.
We get to see if the Golden Knights played their cards right down the stretch or if internal issues contributed to the team’s struggles in the second half of the season. On the other hand, the Stars won a three-team race in the Central Divison to grab home-ice advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. Dallas is favored per the opening Knights vs Stars odds.
Oddsmakers opened the NHL betting line with Dallas as a -125 favorite. The public bet it up to -140. The total stands strong after opening 5.5 (over -115). The game can be seen on SCIPPS, Bally Sports Southwest, and ESPN.
Golden Knights vs Stars 
Records: Vegas Golden Knights (45-29-8), Dallas Stars (52-21-9)
Day/Time:
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Streaming: ESCIPPS, Bally Sports Southwest & ESPN
The Hunter Becomes The Hunted
Fans around the NHL root against the Golden Knights. That’s what happens when you claim your first Cup in just six seasons and your second appearance overall. Vegas fans have not felt the pain of not making the postseason for five straight seasons, unlike the Stars with poor decisions from 2008 to 2012. Vegas’s fans have been labeled as entitled and arrogant.
The team has also been accused of hiding players on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) only to make miraculous comebacks just before the postseason. However, we notice that no one has blinked an eye to Thatcher Demko coming back for the Vancouver Canucks just in time for the playoffs.
Vegas has not done anything wrong and has only played with the hand it was dealt. It also helps that the owner Bill Foley and President George McPhee are lawyers who find ways to exploit legal loopholes.
This organization has consistently set itself up for long-term success via shrewd trades and deals. Mark Stone has been cleared to return for tonight’s game after missing 26 games due to a lacerated spleen. Alex Pietrangelo is also expected to return after an appendectomy.
Newly acquired Anthony Mantha is day-to-day while Chandler Stephenson and Will Carrier are expected to be back. Buckle up because the Knights will be at full strength with key players enjoying needed rest as they hope to become back-to-back Stanely Cup Winners.
Stars To Lean On Hot Hand In Goal
The Dallas Stars head coach and former Golden Knights head man Pete DeBoer didn’t look pleased that the playoff bracket showed that Vegas would be their first-round opponent instead of the Los Angeles Kings.
DeBoer knows this will be a bigger mountain to climb against Bruce Cassidy’s team, but if his club is to advance, it will be because of stellar goaltending.
Stars netminder Jake Oettinger (35-14-4, 2.72, .905) struggled at times this season but has peaked at the right time. He gives Dallas a small advantage in a crucial area.
From the first week of December through the second week of January, Oettinger went through a stretch where he lost five of six starts, allowing 22 goals (3.67). There were even questions by the local media as to whether the former Team USA goaltender would be the team’s best option heading towards the trade deadline.
Oettinger responded by finishing 24-6-2 to help the Stars win a three-team race down the stretch in the Central Division. It was not all smooth sailing as Oettinger lost three straight starts against the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins (SO), and Edmonton Oilers (OT). He gave up 10 goals in the process. The former Boston University star rebounded with a 15-4 record, allowing three goals or less 15 times.
If the Dallas Stars can end the champs home for the summer it will be on the shoulders of their veteran goaltender.
Plus Money Is Hard To Ignore
We’ve watched the Vegas Golden Knights overachieve in each of their first six seasons. Expect no different in this series where they are underdogs.
In the one season (21-22), they failed to make the postseason, namely due to NHL injuries, the team was in it until the end. It was essentially their AHL team on the ice.
Dallas has over 90% of the moneyline tickets, which is why oddsmakers pushed this number to -140. But the Knights will lean on their goaltender Adin Hill (19-12-2, 2.71,909) who, unlike Oettinger, has a shiny Stanely Cup ring.
The champs will deliver a plus money, game-one blow to the Stars. That does it for our Knights vs Stars odds preview, all the best with tonight’s NHL picks and parlays.
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