Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game 1 Prediction, NHL Odds
The Golden Knights make their third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in their short history after sweeping the league-leading Colorado Avalanche in the West Final, and now ride a six-game win streak into Tuesday’s contest. The Hurricanes get set to make their first Cup Final appearance in 20 years after disposing of the Montreal Canadiens in five games in the East final, and have suffered just one defeat in 13 playoff contests, and won nine of their past 10 overall on home ice.
The Hurricanes look to Tuesday’s action as -154 favourites on the Game 1 odds, and have emerged as -142 favourites on the Stanley Cup odds. The Golden Knights lag as +125 underdogs in Game 1 and are a lucrative +120 bet to claim their second Stanley Cup title in four seasons. The total for Game 1 is pegged at 5.5.
Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes NHL Betting Odds
Tuesday’s contests marks the first-ever playoff meeting between these clubs. The Golden Knights swept the two-game season series with the Hurricanes, tallying a pair of early-season victories, capped by a decisive 6-3 victory in Carolina on October 28. With those wins, Vegas snapped a four-game head-to-head slide. However, the Hurricanes maintain an overall edge, earning the win in eight of the past 13 dates with Vegas. NHL bettors taking the UNDER have enjoyed payouts in five of the past eight meetings between these clubs. High scoring has been commonplace when these clubs meet in Carolina, with the OVER going 5-2 in their past seven. However, both these squads have benefitted from outstanding netminding this spring, with the Golden Knights limiting opponents to 1.67 goals per game during their six-game surge and the Hurricanes allowing just five total goals during their four-game surge and recording three shutouts so far in these playoffs, extending a steady 13-3 run for the UNDER in their past 16 overall.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights shocked the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final, and much of the credit must go to a pair of recent arrivals with a lot to prove. Mitch Marner has provided the offensive spark with seven goals and a team-high 21 points. That performance has helped lift the former Toronto Maple Leafs whipping boy to the top of the Conn Smythe Trophy odds as a +155 favourite.
However, Marner saw his production tail off versus the Avs, tallying just three assists while failing to score in his first Conference Final appearance. Carter Hart has also been a revelation for this squad. Signed as a free agent after putting recent legal woes behind him, Hart has found a groove as these playoffs have progressed, and stopped 118 of 125 shots faced in the West Final, and now sports a gawdy .924 save percentage and 2.22 goals against average this spring.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes needed to shake off the rust that built up during a long layoff following their second-round sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers. After getting humbled in a 6-2 series-opening defeat at the hands of the Habs, the Canes shifted back into high gear in East Final, and simply dominated Montreal the rest of the way, outscoring the Canadiens by a 16-5 margin while rolling to four straight wins and a decisive series victory.
Indeed, it’s tough to overstate the Canes’ dominance, particularly in the final three games of the series, in which they outshot the Habs by a massive 109-43 margin while allowing just one goal in the final 169 minutes of the series. The duo of Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven have led the charge. Hall feasted on the Habs in a series-clinching game 3 win, tallying a goal and two assists to claim the team lead with 16 points, and benefited from playing alongside Stankoven, who also tallied three points in Game 5 including the game-winning marker, and now leads the club with nine goals. While goaltender Frederik Andersen leads all Canes players as a +230 bet on the Conn Smythe Trophy odds, Stankoven enters the Cup Final red-hot with goals in each of the past two games, and should not be overlooked as a +1000 dark horse.
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