Oddsmakers believe Knights have golden opportunity to win 2nd Cup...
Oddsmakers believe Knights have golden opportunity to win 2nd Cup https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/betting/oddsmakers-believe-knights-have-golden-opportunity-to-win-2nd-cup-3353023 The Golden Knights have a golden opportunity to win their second Stanley Cup in three years. The Knights are 7-1 favorites at the Westgate SuperBook, topping a group of 10 teams with odds of 12-1 or less to win the NHL championship. “There’s no real great team,” Westgate SuperBook oddsmaker Ed Salmons said. “The top two point getters this year were Washington and Winnipeg, which I don’t think anyone in the world had those two as (having) the two most points. “It’s definitely wide-open.” The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets are behind the Knights at 8-1 at the Westgate. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lighting are tied at 10-1, while the Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals and defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers are all 12-1. The Knights are +850 at Caesars Sportsbook and at BetMGM. “I think the Knights have a real shot this year. They seem as polished a team as there is in the league right now,” Salmons said. “So much of it is getting on a roll and keeping your guys healthy. Just doing good on special teams, getting good goaltending and a good defensive structure, and that’s what the Knights do. “They seemingly have as good a chance as anyone, I believe.” The Knights, after lifting the Cup in 2023, lost in the first round to the Stars last year. They opened at 15-1 odds at Caesars Sportsbook last summer to win the 2025 NHL title. Salmons said bettors didn’t back the Knights as much as in years past after they lost several key players in free agency. The departures included center Chandler Stephenson, defenseman Alec Martinez, left wing William Carrier and right wing Jonathan Marchessault, the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP. “Their odds were higher during the summer when they lost all those guys and there was uncertainty how that team would look,” Salmons said. “And once we started seeing them play, it was like, ‘It’s the same old Knights.’ “They’ve got a great defense, they’re good up the middle, they’ve got the best power play in the league and they’ve got (right wing) Reilly Smith back, who helps them.” A few of the favorites will be eliminated in the first round because of the NHL’s playoff format, which pits the second- and third-place teams in each division against each other. “It’s a playoff format that’s unusual,” Salmons said. “In the first round, Dallas is going to play Colorado, so someone’s out right away. In the Atlantic (Division), Tampa is going to play Florida and one of those teams will be out right away. “The Kings will play the Oilers for the fourth straight year. Edmonton has been really banged up and has really struggled since that (4 Nations Face-Off) tournament. It looks like this year is going to be the Kings’ best chance to beat them.” Winnipeg also might be headed for an early exit unless it can reverse the so-called curse of the Presidents’ Trophy, which is awarded to the team that finishes with the most points in the regular season. Only eight of the first 38 Presidents’ Trophy winners have won the Stanley Cup. The last team to win both was the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks. No beast in East Florida is a favorite to repeat largely because it is the reigning champion and getting healthy for the playoffs. “The East, to me, looks pretty weak. When Washington has your most points, that doesn’t say a lot to me about the whole conference,” Salmons said. “They had a great regular season but I wouldn’t put any trust in Washington doing anything in the playoffs. There are so many teams in the East that, on paper at least, are seemingly somewhat equals. You have Toronto, Tampa, Florida, Carolina — the team that always disappoints — and Washington, which had the big regular season. “The hottest team right now is probably Montreal, who’s the eighth seed. They’ve been playing great hockey and they’re 4-0 against Florida this season.” The Kings are 18-1 to win the Cup, followed by the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators at 40-1, the New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild at 50-1 and the Canadiens at 80-1. “The Knights do have the pedigree of being in the playoffs and just grinding through the series,” Salmons said. “They’ll be a tough out.”
at least Dallas is up in top half, as article says pretty packed favorites. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wow an enjoyable early game this evening - Winn Jets beat StL with a late game goal by (Michigan's) Kyle Connor. Didn't really need the little tussle at 19 seconds remaining though. NOW, on to the battle of titans.
Meanwhile, the Islanders proved they're mediocre (which they've been for years) by finishing 35-35-12. I wish they would finally do something to break this impasse.....
St Louis...... Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo close but so far. Really good game to watch. I thought St. Louis had them. Lots of depression for most of the game for the White Outs. Dallas continues its losing ways. The 5th goal: Image Unavailable, Please Login
it was hammer early then a good close game, once it went downhill 3rd it really went downhill. I think the teams are closer though.
I think Debour's comments "this wasn't a must win game" was a complete joke. This team is in a funk. Game 2 is for sure a "must win game".
VGK played their "B" game and still beat MN. But you can tell its playoff hockey. The games are quite entertaining.
alum04. No. I had to make plans to be in Hershey for my Mom and we are off to LAS next Monday. If there is a 7th game in this series I'll go. I will say Carolina's noise level is a little different than Tranna's.
The only rink I can remember being as loud as Carolina was the old Igloo in Pittsburgh. I saw two Isle's games there in the '75 playoffs where they came back from 0-3 down to win it.
I will stop you, as this is a fact - it's always the goaltender who is the X-factor in 99.9 percent of NHL playoff series.
Knights’ buzzer beater causes ‘dramatic’ swing at Las Vegas sportsbooks https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/betting/knights-buzzer-beater-causes-dramatic-swing-at-las-vegas-sportsbooks-3354749 Bettors who backed the Golden Knights on the puck line (-1½) and over the total (5½) received an Easter miracle Sunday. The Knights were clinging to a 3-2 lead over the Minnesota Wild as the final seconds ticked off the clock in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at T-Mobile Arena. Left wing Brett Howden, with two seconds left, fired a shot in his own defensive zone toward an empty net. The puck crossed the goal line with 0.1 seconds remaining to give the Knights a 4-2 victory and cash the puck line and over. “It was a huge swing in favor of the guests,” Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “It was dramatic. Just the reaction in the room and the number of texts I got from people saying, ‘I’m usually not on the good side of a finish like this.’ “When it comes to the Knights, and especially the Knights at home, the over, the puck line and, of course, winning is usually not a good result for us, and it was just amplified with them scoring so late.” The last-second goal was a brutal beat for bettors who backed the other sides. “You literally could not get it any closer than it was,” Westgate vice president of risk Jeff Sherman said. “I’ve seen pictures that it looked like (the puck) was still on the line when there’s zeros (on the clock).” The empty-net goal resulted in a five-figure swing at the Westgate in favor of bettors. “We always have Knights puck-line support, especially at home,” Sherman said. “It was the last game of the night, too, so (any parlays) going from the day could’ve been going to the favorite and over. It was definitely a bit of a swing for us.” The Knights were -240 on the money line and +110 on the puck line, which is a more attractive option for many bettors. “You tend to get a lot of people that will do that just because you’re getting plus money instead of laying a large favorite,” Sherman said. “Especially when it’s involving the Knights, it’s just that much more accentuated.” Howden’s buzzer-beater helped favorites finish 3-0 on the puck line and pushed overs to 2-1 in Sunday’s NHL playoff games. “We weren’t sure at first if (the goal) was good or it wasn’t good, but it definitely was a huge shift in the overall day,” Esposito said. “Overall, it was really good for the guests.”
I think Debour passed out cocaine between the 2nd and 3rd period. It was not the same team. OT was pretty good for both but it was clear to me Dallas was going to win at the end of the 3rd.
I feel bad for Edmonton. I turned this game off to watch Dallas and luckily I recorded it. Seemed hopeless when they went down 2 men for a full 2 minutes in the 3rd. I still think Edmonton will take the Kings. If they won last night it would have been easier. I don't think LA can last on the road. Edmonton needed to take away home advantage and came sooooooooooooo close.
The Oilers looked out of it and they’re hobbled with injuries, yet McJesus brought them back to tie it in the last minutes. Great, then Skinner blows it. To be fair it was a tough shot but he let in a couple weak ones earlier and the score shouldn’t have been so close. Goaltending continues to be critical, and sadly for Edmonton it’ll be what keeps them from getting a cup yet again this year. Skinner needs to go. They essentially have two backup caliber goalies and no star starter.
