NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes.
Vegas Golden Knights (+130) at Carolina Hurricanes (-155)
Total 5.5 (Over,-115)
Game 1
8 p.m. ET
The wait is over as Game One of the Stanley Cup Final gets underway tonight at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Vegas Golden Knights look to capture their second Stanley Cup in franchise history, while the Carolina Hurricanes return to the Cup Final for the first time since 2006, when they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.
The visiting Golden Knights are hoping they can shake off the rust, having played seven days ago when they completed the four-game sweep of the Colorado Avalanche. The Hurricanes eliminated the Montreal Canadiens last Friday, so having only three days off, rust should not be much of a factor.
The Canes scored the opening goal in 11 of their 13 playoff games, conversely the Knights scored the opening goal in just eight of their 16 games. With Vegas being notoriously slow starters and the Hurricanes being the highest shot volume team in the postseason (33.7/game), I am on Vegas goalie Carter Hart to have 10+ saves in the 1st period and Over 28.5 saves for the game.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Vegas +2.5/Carolina +2.5/Under 6.5 (+125) – 1.5 units
Carolina Hurricanes 1st goal/1st period (+110) – ½ unit
Carter Hart 10+ saves/1st period (+105) – ½ unit
Carter Hart Over 28.5 saves/regulation and OT (-105) – ½ unit
Eichel/Dorofeyev/Karlsson/Jarvis – all 2+ shots on goal (+260) – 1 unit
