Vegas and Dallas are both coming off tight Game 7 wins after blowing 3-1 series leads.  The Golden Knights will play in the second Western Conference final in their three-year history, while the Stars will play in the Western Conference final for the first time since 2008.

The Golden Knights opened as -155 favourites on the NHL odds for Game 1, with the Stars at +130.  Puck drop is set to go Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, with the total at 6 goals and the under favoured at -115.

Stars vs. Golden Knights NHL Playoff Odds

The favourite is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams.  The over has gone 7-1 in the Stars last eight games overall, while the under is 4-1 in the Golden Knights last five overall.

Vegas is the favourite to win the series at -227 with Dallas at +180. Oddsmakers have the Golden Knights at +175 to win the Stanley Cup and the Stars at +500.

Dallas Stars

The restart didn’t begin the way the Stars wanted.  They went 1-2 in the seeding round-robin, but have steadily improved as the playoffs have gone on.  They showed dominance at times in their 4-2 first round series win over Calgary.  In the second round Dallas gutted out a tough seven game series against a Colorado Avalanche team many expected to make a deeper run.  It is a credit to their skill they were able to go up 3-1 in that series and a bigger credit to their mental toughness that they were able to win Game 7 in overtime after blowing a 3-1 series lead.

After only scoring four goals in the seeding round, the Stars upped their average to 3.5 goals per game in the Calgary series and 4.0 GPG against Colorado.  The area the Stars need to clean up is a diminishing defensive ability.  They had a stingy defense in the regular season, which held opponents to an average of 2.52 goals per game, but that number has climbed to 3.77 GPG in the playoffs.  There are also questions surrounding the goaltending situation.  Anton Khudobin has been solid, but not spectacular.  Ben Bishop is a better goalie when he is healthy, but the question is how soon do you push Bishop back into the crease?

Miro Heiskanen continues to impress in the playoffs, leading all Stars players with 19 points (5G, 14A), while Denis Gurianov and Joe Pavelski are tied for the team lead in goals with eight.  This series could come down to Khudobin.  Bishop is clearly not healthy enough to play and the Stars are not a deep enough team to beat Vegas without outstanding goaltending.  Likely to get the start in Game 1, Khudobin could be the difference between going to the Stanley Cup final and going home for the Stars.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have been the better team this season.  Vegas has won two of three meetings with Dallas dating back to November and has outscored the Stars 12-7 in that span.  The Golden Knights won the seeding game between these teams 5-3 on August 3 to go 3-0 in the round-robin and lock up the number one seed in the Western Conference.

The Golden Knights have relied on an all-around game, possibly more than any other team, since the restart, with 11 different players contributing at least two goals.  Mark Stone (6G, 9A) and Shea Theodore (5G, 10A) lead the team in points with 15, while Alex Tuch leads in goals with seven.  Robin Lehner should get the start in Game 1 after posting an 8-4 record with a 1.99 GAA and .918 SV in 12 playoff starts, while Fleury is a reliable secondary option after posting a 3-0 record with a 2.67 GAA and .893 SV in three starts.

The Golden Knights are coming off a 4-1 series win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round and blew a 3-1 second series lead to the Vancouver Canucks before winning in seven games.  Vegas is the more complete team overall from having two capable net minders to more reliable primary and secondary scoring and a defensive core that is on par, if not better, than the Stars.  The Golden Knights look primed to play in their second Stanley Cup final in three years.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Stars vs. Golden Knights?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Stars Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Tyler Seguin 50
+ / -	Miro Heiskanen 14
Shots	Tyler Seguin 245
Penalty Mins	Corey Perry 70
Wins	Ben Bishop 21
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.22

VEG

Points	Max Pacioretty 66
+ / -	Chandler Stephenson 19
Shots	Max Pacioretty 307
Penalty Mins	Ryan Reaves 47
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 27
GAA	Robin Lehner 1.67

DAL

Points	Miro Heiskanen 26
+ / -	Jamie Oleksiak 11
Shots	Jamie Benn 69
Penalty Mins	Mattias Janmark 38
Wins	Anton Khudobin 14
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.69

VEG

Points	Shea Theodore 19
+ / -	Alec Martinez 11
Shots	Shea Theodore 80
Penalty Mins	Nick Cousins 22
Wins	Robin Lehner 9
GAA	Robin Lehner 1.99

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Golden Knights Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Tyler Seguin 50
+ / -	Miro Heiskanen 14
Shots	Tyler Seguin 245
Penalty Mins	Corey Perry 70
Wins	Ben Bishop 21
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.22

VEG

Points	Max Pacioretty 66
+ / -	Chandler Stephenson 19
Shots	Max Pacioretty 307
Penalty Mins	Ryan Reaves 47
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 27
GAA	Robin Lehner 1.67

DAL

Points	Miro Heiskanen 26
+ / -	Jamie Oleksiak 11
Shots	Jamie Benn 69
Penalty Mins	Mattias Janmark 38
Wins	Anton Khudobin 14
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.69

VEG

Points	Shea Theodore 19
+ / -	Alec Martinez 11
Shots	Shea Theodore 80
Penalty Mins	Nick Cousins 22
Wins	Robin Lehner 9
GAA	Robin Lehner 1.99

Injuries

Dallas

Andrej Sekera (D)

Prob Mon Knee - 27 / 09 / 20

Roope Hintz (LW)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 26 / 09 / 20

Andrej Sekera (D)

day-to-day Knee - 26 / 09 / 20

Alexander Radulov (RW)

Prob Fri Undisclosed - 24 / 09 / 20

Blake Comeau (LW)

Ques Wed Upper Body - 21 / 09 / 20

Roope Hintz (LW)

Prob Mon Upper Body - 12 / 09 / 20

Corey Perry (RW)

day-to-day Undisclosed - 12 / 09 / 20

Radek Faksa (C)

Ques Wed Wrist - 11 / 09 / 20

Anton Khudobin (G)

Prob Sat Groin - 11 / 09 / 20

Roope Hintz (LW)

Ques Thurs Forearm - 08 / 09 / 20

Vegas

Mark Stone (RW)

Prob Mon Foot - 14 / 09 / 20

Tomas Nosek (LW)

Ques Wed Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 20

Robin Lehner (G)

Prob Sat Knee - 11 / 09 / 20

Ryan Reaves (RW)

Elig Tues Suspension - 05 / 09 / 20

Nick Cousins (C)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 20

Paul Stastny (C)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 15 / 08 / 20

Tomas Nosek (LW)

Out indefinitely Hand - 13 / 08 / 20

Chandler Stephenson (C)

Prob Mon Upper Body - 10 / 03 / 20

Tomas Nosek (LW)

Prob Sun Upper Body - 29 / 02 / 20

Mark Stone (RW)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 28 / 02 / 20

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Andrej Sekera (D)	Prob Mon	Knee - 27 / 09 / 20	1-0	0-0-1	+ -
Sekera is hampered by a knee injury, and he is likely to suit up against the Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.
Roope Hintz (LW)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 26 / 09 / 20	2-0	1-0-1	+ -
Hintz is bothered by an unspecified injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final against the Lightning.
Andrej Sekera (D)	day-to-day	Knee - 26 / 09 / 20	2-0	1-0-1	+ -
Sekera departed Saturday's game due to a knee injury, and it is up in the air if he will return.
Alexander Radulov (RW)	Prob Fri	Undisclosed - 24 / 09 / 20	2-1	2-0-1	+ -
Radulov is dealing with an injury to an unreported area, but he is expected to lace up for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final against the Lightning in question.
Blake Comeau (LW)	Ques Wed	Upper Body - 21 / 09 / 20	4-1	2-0-3	+ -
Comeau is battling an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if it will interfere with his availability for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final versus the Lightning.
Roope Hintz (LW)	Prob Mon	Upper Body - 12 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Hintz has an upper-body injury, but it is unlikely to affect his status for Game 5 of the Western Conference final.
Corey Perry (RW)	day-to-day	Undisclosed - 12 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Perry exited Saturday's game with an apparent injury and his return is in question.
Radek Faksa (C)	Ques Wed	Wrist - 11 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Faksa is nursing a left wrist injury, and it is unknown if he will play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final against the Lightning.
Anton Khudobin (G)	Prob Sat	Groin - 11 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Khudobin is dealing with a groin injury, but will likely be available to face the Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Western Conference final.
Roope Hintz (LW)	Ques Thurs	Forearm - 08 / 09 / 20	8-2	2-4-4	+ -
Hintz is tending to a right forearm injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Game 3 of the Western Conference final against the Golden Knights.

Vegas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Mark Stone (RW)	Prob Mon	Foot - 14 / 09 / 20	0-1	0-1	+ -
Stone has a foot injury, but he is expected to suit up against the Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference final.
Tomas Nosek (LW)	Ques Wed	Shoulder - 11 / 09 / 20	0-2	0-2	+ -
Nosek is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it is unknown if he will play in Game 6 of the Western Conference final versus the Stars.
Robin Lehner (G)	Prob Sat	Knee - 11 / 09 / 20	0-2	0-2	+ -
Lehner is nursing a sore knee, but is likely to be available for Game 4 of the Western Conference final against the Stars.
Ryan Reaves (RW)	Elig Tues	Suspension - 05 / 09 / 20	2-4	0-6	+ -
Reaves is serving a one-game suspension for an illegal check to the head, but he is expected to return for Game 2 of the Western Conference final versus the Stars.
Nick Cousins (C)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 20	2-4	0-6	+ -
Cousins is tending to an unspecified ailment, and it is unclear if he will lace up for Game 1 of the Western Conference final versus the Stars.
Paul Stastny (C)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 15 / 08 / 20	5-10	4-11	+ -
Stastny is dealing with an unspecified issue, and it is uncertain if he will line up for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round versus the Blackhawks.
Tomas Nosek (LW)	Out indefinitely	Hand - 13 / 08 / 20	6-10	4-12	+ -
Nosek has a hand injury and will miss an extended period.
Chandler Stephenson (C)	Prob Mon	Upper Body - 10 / 03 / 20	11-10	8-13	+ -
Stephenson is dealing with an upper-body injury, but he is likely to return in the Western Conference round robin versus the Stars.
Tomas Nosek (LW)	Prob Sun	Upper Body - 29 / 02 / 20	14-12	8-17-1	+ -
Nosek is tending to an upper-body ailment, but it is not expected to impede his status for Sunday's contest against the Kings.
Mark Stone (RW)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 28 / 02 / 20	14-12	8-17-1	+ -
Stone will miss an extended period due to a lower-body injury.