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The Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars hook up for Game 5 of their best-of-7 Western Conference 1st-round series Wednesday. Puck drop from American Airlines Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Golden Knights vs. Stars odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Update 12:53 p.m. ET: Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy announced G Adin Hill will start instead of G Logan Thompson, who was the projected starter when this column first ran. Odds and below suggestions have not changed due to the goalie switch.
After losing the first 2 games at home, Dallas recovered and regained home-ice advantage by taking the next 2 at Vegas, including a 4-2 victory Monday.
The Stars were -121 favorites vs. the Golden Knights, who were +109 underdogs, as the Over (5.5) cashed. Vegas RW Michael Amadio and C Jack Eichel each found the back of the net, while 4 different Golden Knights were credited with an assist.
Dallas scored in each period, including 2 in the 2nd, with 4 different players scoring and 4 different players having an assist. The Stars’ goals were tallied by RW Evgenii Dadonov, C Wyatt Johnston, C Ty Dellandrea (game-winner) and C Roope Hintz (empty-netter).
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Golden Knights at Stars odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:41 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Golden Knights +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Stars -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Golden Knights +1.5 (-190) | Stars -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Golden Knights at Stars projected goalies
Adin Hill (19-12-2, 2.71 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Jake Oettinger (35-14-4, 2.72 GAA, .905 SV%, 3 SO)
Thompson (25-14-5, 2.70 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO) started in net the first 4 games of the series. He gave up 3 goals apiece in 3 of the 4 games and surrendered just 1 goal in Game 2. His 2.35 GAA and .921 SV% series averages are slightly better than his season averages.
Hill played 3 games in April, last starting April 18 in a 4-1 loss at the Anaheim Ducks in the regular-season finale. He allowed 3 goals on 22 shots. For the month, Hill is 1-2-0, allowing 11 goals on 71 shots for a .845 SV% with a 3.68 GAA. He did go 2-0-0 against the Stars this season, yielding just 3 goals on 58 shots (.948 SV%) with a 1.43 GAA.
Oettinger started each game in this series and has given up 2 goals in each of the last 3 games — he allowed 4 in the opener. His 2.38 GAA and .907 SV% series averages are also slightly better than his season averages. He is 12-3 in his last 15 starts.
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Golden Knights at Stars picks and predictions
Prediction
Stars 4, Golden Knights 3
Moneyline
BET STARS (-160).
While neither team has won on its home ice to this point in the series, expect the Stars to change that Wednesday. Dallas has roared back into the series after stealing back-to-back games in Vegas and has scored 3 or more goals in each of its last 2 games.
Dallas performed well on its home ice during the regular season with a 26-11-4 record, while Vegas went 18-17-6 on the road during the regular season.
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS.
There is no value on the puck line in this tight series.
Over/Under
BET OVER 5.5 (-125).
The Over has hit in 2 of the 4 games in this series with at least one side scoring 3 or more goals in each game. With both teams getting better on the attack throughout the series, more goals are to be expected. Vegas has scored 3 or more goals in 6 of its last 10 games, while Dallas has scored 3 or more goals in 6 of its last 9.
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