The NHL is gearing up for the spotlight in the Sun Belt, as the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights are set to clash in the Stanley Cup final. This best-of-seven series is scheduled to kick off Saturday night in Las Vegas, andOntario sports betting operators are preparing for a major influx of excitement surrounding one of the most significant sporting events in the Canadian betting landscape.
As expected, Vegas has been named the favorite to win the series by all prominent sportsbooks. The Florida Panthers are accustomed to being viewed as the underdogs; they've been the underdog in every seven-game series they've played so far. Florida embraced this narrative, rallying behind an 'us against the world' mindset to triumph over Boston, Toronto, and Carolina in previous rounds.
With solid series wins against Nashville, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, Vegas has solidified its status as the favored team. In just their sixth season, the Golden Knights are currently sitting at -125 on the line atDraftKings Sportsbook Ontario to take the Cup for the first time.
Stars To Watch in Stanley Cup Final
Vegas goalie Adin Hill has been impressive since entering the playoffs. He stepped into the starting role after Laurent Brossoit, who started the initial eight playoff games, had to exit Game 3 of the second round against the Oilers due to an injury.
Hill, with a playoff record of 7-3 and a goals against average of 2.07, will need to perform at his peak when he faces current Conn Smythe favorite Sergei Bobrovsky in the Florida goal.
Bobrovsky is +215 to be the playoff MVP atNorthStar Bets Sportsbook Ontario Bobrovsky is currently slightly ahead of teammate Matthew Tkachuk at +375 (with Vegas's Jack Eichel also at +375). Both Bobrovsky and Tkachuk have been pivotal for Florida, and should their team capture the Cup, one of them will take home the trophy. The Golden Knights boast several candidates for playoff MVP, reflected in the odds as Eichel, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, and Hill are all positioned between +375 and +1300.
How Both Teams Got Here
Florida has advanced to the finals through an assertive forechecking style and a disciplined defense that has kept opponents on edge. The Panthers completed a sweep of the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals, but each of those games was tightly contested, featuring two victories in overtime. Timely goals from Tkachuk have been crucial, with him scoring the game-winner in three of those matches.
The Golden Knights have reached the finals by displaying a robust and organized team approach, where every player has fully accepted coach Bruce Cassidy’s methodology. Each game sees different lines taking the lead, as highlighted during the first period of the decisive Game 6 of the conference finals, when the fourth line made a significant contribution by scoring twice early on. Once again, Vegas is favored to make a strong start in this series – with odds set at -135 onBetMGM Sportsbook Ontario in Saturday’s Game 1.
Eichel has been outstanding at both ends of the ice, playing a crucial role in the series against Dallas, even without contributing any goals. Marchessault made key contributions against Edmonton while Karlsson provided vital scoring against the Stars.
Defensively, both teams have been stellar, with their goalies stepping up during any rare defensive blips. Vegas has effectively balanced minutes across its defensive pairings, a significant advantage compared to Florida, which heavily relies on its top players.
This depth in Vegas’s defense could prove vital if the series extends to six or seven games, although the Panthers have successfully dispatched their last two foes in five games or fewer.
More 2023 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
The over under has been set at 5.5 withCaesars Sportsbook Ontario for the opening game of the series. Given the strong performances in goal and defensively from both squads, it's not surprising. This low scoring projection is likely to hold for every matchup unless the opening games indicate a shift towards a high-scoring affair.
As Game 1 approaches, Florida will conclude an 11-day break, so expect some early rust from the Eastern champions. However, once both sides find their rhythm, an intense and competitive series should unfold between these two southern franchises.
One thing is clear — for the third time in six years, the Stanley Cup will be awarded to a franchise that has yet to claim it. The Washington Capitals made history by winning their first Cup in 2018, followed by the St. Louis Blues in 2019. Both the Golden Knights (2018) and Panthers (1996) have previously fallen short in the Cup finals.
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