The NHL Western Conference Finals continue on Tuesday with the Dallas Stars looking to get their first win on the board in the series against the Vegan Golden Knights.
Bookmaker BetOnline has the odds at -185 for Dallas to come out flying and scoring over 0.5 first-period goals. The odds are at +155 for under 0.5 first-period goals for the hosts, while the odds are at -150 for Vegas to score over 0.5 goals in the first period and at +120 for the visiting side to settle for under 0.5 goals in the opening frame.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 22nd, 6:00 P.M. (EST)
The Stars find themselves two games down in the series after taking a pair of overtime losses in the first couple of clashes. Sunday’s 3-2 defeat was particularly painful for the team as Vegas produced a late game-tying goal in the final minutes of regulation and netted early in overtime.
Another defeat would put the Stars in a very tough situation, and they need a find a way to eliminate mistakes in their game and get better scoring chances. Generating offense shouldn’t be a problem for a team that has one of the best lines in hockey.
Jason Roberton, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski combined for 262 points during the regular season and they have been flying in the playoffs as well, occupying all the top three spots on Dallas’ scoring charts. Robertson has opened the Conference Finals with goals in back-to-back games, Hintz is the league’s top scorer in the postseason with 22 points and Pavelski has casually netted eight goals in nine appearances in these playoffs.
Based on individual talent, Dallas clearly is the better team, but Vegas always seems to put together strong units that are tough to beat and it’s happened again in 2022-23.
The Golden Knights have been producing goals throughout the lineup and they have received some superb goal-tending despite playoff starter Laurent Brossoit getting shelved with a lower-body injury. Adin Hill has come in to register a 5-1 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
At the other end of the ice, Vegas boasts three prolific lines that all have the quality to make the decisive breakthrough in any game. Bruce Cassidy’s men have the second-best scoring record in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the first line really has to make themselves count for Dallas for the team to have a chance of mounting a comeback in the series.
