The Dallas Stars have their backs against the wall against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of their Western Conference Final playoff series Saturday, trailing 3-1. Puck drop at T-Mobile Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Stars vs. Golden Knights odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Dallas made us look like prophets with a 3-2 overtime winner in Game 4 to extend the series, cashing all 3 wagers and nailing the final score. The Stars still trail 3-1 and will push Saturday to get back home for a Game 6.
The Stars will again be without captain LW Jamie Benn, who will serve the 2nd game of a 2-game suspension for a cross-check in Game 3. RW Evgenii Dadonov will also be out due to a lower-body injury.
Vegas played a solid game in Game 4, and G Adin Hill stopped 39 of 42 shots. Dallas just wanted that one more but now we’re back in Las Vegas for another possible clincher in Game 5. RW Jonathan Marchessault is on another planet right now with goals in 3 straight games and 6 goals in his last 5 games.
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Stars at Golden Knights odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Stars +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Golden Knights -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars +1.5 (-225) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Stars at Golden Knights projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (37-11-11, 2.37 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO – regular season) vs. Adin Hill (16-7-1, 2.50 GAA, .915 SV%, 0 SO – regular season)
Oettinger stepped up in Game 4, stopping 37 of 39 shots in what was easily his best performance of the series. The win stopped a 3-game skid and he has lost 4 of his last 5 starts and needs to get right. He stopped 54 of 61 shots in the first 2 games in Vegas for a .885 SV%. He’ll need to be better than that to extend the series again.
Hill was great in Game 4, but Dallas got to him in overtime on the power play. He has a .943 SV% in the series, which is elite status. He also has the luxury of knowing that even if he gives up 3, his offense is firing on all cylinders and may still do enough to advance.
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Stars at Golden Knights picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 4, Stars 3
Moneyline
The Stars keep it tight, but the Golden Knights ultimately have too much ammo with Hill playing the best hockey of his life. Vegas’ motto for this one should be: “Score 4 and say no more”, because Dallas has yet to do that in the series.
Take the GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-145).
Puck line/Against the spread
No interest in either puck line here again, but I do see something I like in the Win/Total section.
Take GOLDEN KNIGHTS TO WIN AND OVER 4.5 GOALS (+125). That covers you in the event of yet another overtime, and we have had 5 goals in each game except the one Dallas was shut out in.
Over/Under
The Under has cashed in the last 3 games of the series, and it’s a toss-up whether we have a 3-2 or 4-3 finish on Saturday. My thought process is that these teams empty the tank, but Dallas is missing 2 key players and Oettinger doesn’t look right between the pipes. Someone will need to score 4, and Vegas has done it twice in the 4 games.
LEAN OVER 5.5 (-110).
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