Golden Knights vs. Stars Game 2 Prediction, Stanley Cup Playoff Odds
The now-healthy Golden Knights showed in the series opener why they are considered as one of the most dangerous eight-seeds ever, taking Game 1 4-3 on Monday. Vegas captain Mark Stone was one of several Golden Knights skaters to return to Vegas’ lineup to begin the post-season and Stone made all the conspiracists sick when he opened the scoring just 83 seconds in.
Puck drop at American Airlines Center gets started at 9:30 p.m. EDT with the Stars -175 on the moneyline to tie this series at one all, while NHL oddsmakers have the over-under in Game 2 set at six. Vegas is now -160 to win the series.
Golden Knights vs. Stars NHL Betting Odds
With Monday’s win the Golden Knights improved to 8-1-1 over their last 10 meetings with the Stars and Vegas is now 4-0 this season against Dallas. Four of the last six Golden Knights–Stars contests have finished over the total. Five of the seven goals in Game 1 came in the opening period, with Vegas converting on both of their only power-plays in the entire game. The Golden Knights only put up 15 shots on net and Tomas Hertl, Jonathan Marchessault, and Alex Pietrangelo were the only three Vegas skaters with multiple shots in the win.
Prior to Game 1, six straight Stars home games had finished under the total. Given the urgency of being down in the series and on home ice, combined with only allowing 15 shots in the loss and you’d think Dallas at least clamps down in their own end.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights made it their mission to start fast and capitalize in tight and it was their top forwards leading the charge. First period goals from Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, and Tomas Hertl got the Knights a lead they never gave up. Defenceman Brayden McNabb ended up scoring Vegas’ fourth goal, the game-winning goal, 66 seconds into the second period. Jack Eichel, last season’s leading playoff scorer, notched a pair of assists in the win.
Logan Thompson turned away 26 of 29 shots faced in Game 1 and appears set to keep his crease in Game 2. Monday was Thompson’s first career Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance after starting a career-high 42 games in the regular season.
Defenceman Nicolas Hague exited in the third period of Game 1 with an undisclosed injury. If Hague can’t go in Game 2, expect either Alec Martinez or Ben Hutton to enter Vegas’ lineup.
Dallas Stars
In 2021–22, Jake Oettinger arrived to the scene with a .954 save percentage in a seven-game series loss to Calgary. Last season, Oettinger started 19 playoff games but his .895 save percentage was a number that cost Dallas in their Western Conference Final loss to Vegas — his save percentage was under .900 in all of the Stars’ losses in the series. Now, Oettinger’s coming off a career-worst .905 save percentage in the regular season and allowed four goals on 15 shots in Game 1.
The consensus is the Stars are deeper than any team in the NHL, arguably and ironically aside from Vegas. But the depth doesn’t matter if Oettinger is letting every fourth or fifth shot in.
Jamie Benn, Jason Robertson, and Mason Marchment all scored in Monday’s loss. All three were part of Dallas’ league-leading eight 20-goal scorers this season.
