The Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights continue their best-of-7 series on Monday with Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Vegas leads the series 1-0. Puck drop from T-Mobile Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Golden Knights odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Panthers had won 11 of the last 12 games prior to Game 1, but the Golden Knights posted a 5-2 victory in the series opener.
Veteran Eric Staal opened the scoring for Florida with a shorthanded goal midway through the 1st period, but former Panthers sniper Jonathan Marchessault answered with a power-play goal at 17:18 to tie it.
In the 2nd period, Shea Theodore scored his 1st goal of the postseason for Vegas at 10:54, but Anthony Duclair beat the clock with an unassisted even-strength goal at 19:49 to level the game at 2.
It was anybody’s game, but VGK seized control in the 3rd. Zach Whitecloud struck 6:59 into the final period, while Mark Stone added an unassisted goal and Reilly Smith put a bow on the scoring with a goal into the empty net. Jack Eichel didn’t score, but he picked up 2 assists, joining Theodore (1 G, 1 A) as the only player with multiple points in Game 1.
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Panthers 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 6:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Panthers +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Golden Knights -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-225) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Panthers at Golden Knights projected goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky (24-20-3, 3.07 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO – regular season) vs. Adin Hill (16-7-1, 2.50 GAA, .915 SV% – regular season)
Bobrovsky coughed up 4 goals on 33 shots in Game 1, his most goals allowed in 11 games since conceding 5 goals on 34 shots against the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Bobrovsky is now 11-3-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .931 SV% with a shutout in 14 postseason starts and 1 relief appearance. Despite the loss, Bob remains the chalk (+275) at BetMGM Sportsbook for the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s postseason most valuable player. Eichel is right on his heels, however, at +325.
Hill allowed 2 goals on 35 shots in the opening win, including a ridiculous sprawling stick save to rob Nick Cousins early in the 2nd period.
In these playoffs, Hill is 8-3-0 with a 2.06 GAA and .938 SV% with 2 SO in 10 postseason starts and 2 relief appearances. He is quickly sneaking up the Conn Smythe odds, too, now sitting at +500, the 5th-shortest odds.
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Panthers at Golden Knights picks and predictions
Prediction
Panthers 4, Golden Knights 3
Moneyline
The PANTHERS (+120) are a value play Monday night on the Strip.
Like the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Florida was bested by a large margin in the opening game of this series. And like the Heat in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets, I expect the Panthers to come back and level this series before heading back to South Florida.
Despite the loss, Florida is still 12-2 in its last 14 road games, while going 13-3 in the last 16 games when working on a day of rest.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Panthers +1.5 (-225) should be avoided in Game 2, as you must risk more than 2 times your potential return. If you like Florida, take it straight up on the moneyline for a much better value.
PASS.
Over/Under
OVER 6 (+100) is worth a look in Game 2, but go lightly.
While we saw a total of 7 goals in the opening game, we also had a shorthanded goal, as well as an empty-net goal. Neither of those things can be expected in each outing.
However, while I expect Bobrovsky to be much better in Game 2, as he has been on a heater, I do not expect Hill to be nearly as efficient as the opening game win. At the least, I can see a push, but the lean is Over yet again.
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