The Vegas Golden Knights look to take a 3-0 series lead over the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday. The puck will be dropped at Rogers Place in Edmonton shortly after 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Golden Knights-Blackhawks betting odds and lines and make our NHL picks and best bets.
Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks: Projected starting goalies
Robin Lehner vs. Corey Crawford
Lehner had a lackluster outing in the 4-3 overtime win in Game 2. He allowed three goals on just 25 shots. He has allowed three goals in three of his four starts since the beginning of the qualification round.
Crawford continued his unimpressive play in net with another four goals allowed on 39 shots in Game 2. He has allowed at least four goals in four of six games this postseason and has a .890 save percentage.
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Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:35 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Golden Knights 5, Blackhawks 2
Moneyline (ML)
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-200) won the opener 4-1 but were taken to overtime Thursday before winning 4-3. RW Reilly Smith‘s winner came 7:13 into the first extra frame. The Knights have outshot the Blackhawks (+165) 73-45 through two games.
Even though Game 2 was much closer, the Golden Knights have been the much better team thus far while living up to their billing of the Western Conference’s top seed following the round-robin tournament. They also have a big advantage in net with former Blackhawks backup Lehner likely to start again.
Take the GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-200) to win in regulation or overtime.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Vegas to win returns a profit of $5.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Vegas rushed out to a 2-0 first-period lead in Game 2 but coughed it up by the mid-point of the second period. Mark Stone and Dylan Strome exchanged goals in the final three minutes of the second before a scoreless third period in which the Knights outshot the ‘Hawks 16-6.
Take the GOLDEN KNIGHTS -1.5 (+135) to win by 2 or more goals as a relatively safe and much more profitable play.
Over/Under (O/U)
Go to the alternate lines to get the half-goal hook and take the OVER 6.5 (+105). Neither goalie has been sharp in this series and both offenses are averaging well above three goals per game since the beginning of the qualification round.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 36-28
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