WC Game Four: Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights Odds Preview

The Dallas Stars (1-2) will spend a few days in Vegas, while the Golden Knights (2-1) hope to regain their two-game advantage before returning to the Lone Star State for Game 5.

Oddsmakers aren’t convinced the Knights are the better team after making the VGK and Dallas hockey odds -110 each way despite the home-ice advantage.

Bettors feel the same after the Stars were bet up to a -115 favorite with a total of 5.5 (over -120). The puck is scheduled to drop at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT and can be seen on SCRIPPS, ESPN, and Bally Sports Southwest. Let’s get to our Stars and Golden Knights odds preview.

Has Dallas Learned How To Beat Vegas?

The notion is that now that the Dallas Stars have beaten the Golden Knights, they know how to beat them in game four. We don’t subscribe to that simplistic handicapping because it has to go deeper than that.

However, going below the surface does give off the impression that there is a good reason why the majority of money is on the Stars tonight. The series may favor Vegas, but as we’ve said from the end of game one, we think Dallas has been the better hockey team, with the Knights taking full advantage of their chances.

Once again, the Stars outshot the Knights by a healthy 46-34 margin while dominating higher danger chances with 23 (27-4) more. There is no better defense than an offense that controls the puck and that’s what Dallas did in game three with Vegas never threatening for large pockets of time like the Stars did.

There still is worry. The Dallas Stars can’t play better than they did in game three and still needed overtime to secure the win.

Pete DeBoer said they need to put NHL games out of reach when dominating in the manner they did, unlike bettors and oddsmakers, we need to see more to be as convinced that DeBoer’s team has found a way to win other than play perfect.

The Knights Resiliency Put To The Test

We know that Bruce Cassidy is emphasizing the first period of game four. That’s the 20 minutes that will either breathe more life into the Stars or steal their soul for the rest of the period.

The results may not show up on the NHL scoreboard but now the Golden Knights have taken the Stars’ best punch, it’s time for Cassidy to counterpunch to send the Stars on the brink of elimination. Bettors lean on too much of what they just saw and not enough on what adjustments can be made by Vegas to counter the Stars’ perfection.

Perhaps the public forgets that the Knights have won six of their last eight games after a loss, that’s where coaching comes in and for our money, Cassidy is the better of the two head men in this series.

VGK have won seven of their last 10 meetings and have had very little trouble winning in Dallas, where the NHL playoff schedule will switch to for game five. We encourage bettors to take a step back from game three and treat this game as a separate entity.

Pressure Still On Dallas

The numbers are always the go-to reason why the public bets on one team over another, with game four being no exception. Dallas has the advantage in most statistical categories after countering Vegas’ physicality, but numbers will only tell you where you’ve been and not where you or your wagers are going.

We think the early adjustments by the books to make the Stars the favorites will come back later in the day with early betting showing Vegas money coming in. We think the books are making their wager on the Dallas Stars even if they have liability on one side.

We have the Dallas Stars as seventh in our NHL ranking, while the Knights are 12th, but there is something about the spirit of Vegas that’s difficult to go against. We believe in Cassidy and a second line that’s getting called out for poot play in game three.

Public call-outs are the types of things that make hockey players uncomfortable which seems to spark a better performance. We think the William Karlsson line will be the catapult for Vegas in game four. That does it for our Stars vs Knights odds preview. All the best with your NHL picks and parlays tonight.

For NHL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• NHL Playoffs: Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings Game 4 Odds Preview
• Game 4 Rangers vs Capitals Preview: Washington Trying to Stay Alive
• WC Game Four: Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche Odds Preview
• DeSmith, Canucks Look to Grab Commanding Lead over Predators
• Lightning the Home Dog as Panthers Go For the Kill