The Vegas Golden Knights meet the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of their Western Conference Final playoff series Monday. Puck drop at American Airlines Arena is scheduled for 8 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.
The Golden Knights lead the series 3-2 after dropping Game 5 at home Saturday 4-2. Vegas looked a little complacent. Coach Bruce Cassidy highlighted the team’s 24 giveaways in Game 5, and captain Mark Stone said the team needs a better effort and to be a little more desperate. That all showed as Dallas stole this one.
Midway through the 3rd period, C Ty Dellandrea struck for 2 goals in just over 90 seconds to put the Stars ahead to stay. It was the 1st 2-goal game of his playoff career for a guy who was a healthy scratch at times this postseason. Stars LW Jamie Benn will return from a 2-game suspension for Game 6.
Golden Knights at Stars odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub Lines last updated at 9:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Golden Knights +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Stars -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Golden Knights +1.5 (-250) | Stars -1.5 (+190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Golden Knights at Stars projected goalies
Adin Hill (16-7-1, 2.50 GAA, .915 SV%, 0 SO – regular season) vs. Jake Oettinger (37-11-11, 2.37 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO – regular season)
Hill stopped 30 of 34 shots in Game 5 as he has now made at least 30 saves in all but 1 game this series. The Stars might be onto something, though, as he has allowed 7 goals in the last 2 games after allowing just 5 in the first 3 games. Hill is 6-3 with a 2.30 GAA and .932 SV% these playoffs.
Oettinger was good again in Game 5 with 27 saves on 29 shots. Over the last 2 games, he has stopped 64 of 68 for a .941 SV%. It really has been a tale of 2 series for Otter, who allowed 10 goals combined in the 1st 3 games and 4 the last 2. He’s 10-8 with a 2.89 GAA and .901 SV% these playoffs.
Golden Knights at Stars picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 4, Stars 3
Moneyline
The Golden Knights are narrowly at plus-money for just the 2nd time this series. They closed at +120 for Game 3, up 2-0 in Dallas, and they’re at +110 here. So the books aren’t too convinced we’ll see a Game 7. This is truly a toss-up. Hill has been playing well above his pay grade, and maybe that prompted VGK to be a little lax with the puck. I look for a high-octane game here that may require a 7th overtime between the teams in the last 10 games.
LEAN GOLDEN KNIGHTS +110.
Puck line/Against the spread
No interest in either puck line here, but I expect a more-inspired Golden Knights team. They were beaten 29-25 in faceoffs, 24-21 in hits and 34-29 in shots in Game 5. I look for at least 30-32 shots in this one, and that means BET JAKE OETTINGER OVER 26.5 SAVES 105).
Over/Under
The Under is 8-0 in the last 8 meetings in Dallas and 15-5-2 in the last 22 overall. But I really look for Vegas to put up 4 here, which they did in the 4-0 win here in Game 3. Dallas should keep it close. This is just a hunch here because VGK’s coach publicly called out their effort, and Dallas is lighting the lamp enough to cash it. So PASS or LEAN OVER 5.5 (-110).
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