Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals did not disappoint as both teams played with a ton of intensity in a closely contested affair.
The Golden Knights were deserving winners, but there were certainly some positives for the Panthers to build upon that should give them some betting value in Game 2 (8 p.m. ET, TNT).
Check out my same-game parlay for Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 2 below, which includes picks for a Panthers win, Anthony Duclair, Aleksander Barkov and Shea Theodore.
Same Game Parlay: Panthers vs. Golden Knights Game 2
The Parlay (+375 bet365)
- Panthers Moneyline
- Anthony Duclair Over 0.5 Points, Aleksander Barkov Over 0.5 Points
Panthers Moneyline
The greatest positive for the Panthers from Game 1 was that they were step for step with the Knights at even strength, which few expected entering the series. At even strength, Florida played to a 49.72% expected goals rating per EvolvingHockey, which is an assessment I agree with upon review.
A plethora of penalties was the Panthers' ultimate undoing, especially due to the fact that their power play did not do any damage. Nick Cousins missing a wide-open net did not help things either.
In all likelihood, the power-play opportunities will shake out closer to even in tonight's matchup. If the Panthers can perform similarly well at even strength, that will make them the clear side while holding value at +120 – especially as Vegas' penalty kill has been a concern this postseason that Florida could likely expose moving forward.
Anthony Duclair and Aleksander Barkov Over 0.5 Points
Florida's top line of Anthony Duclair, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe was not great defensively in Game 1, but they did generate many high-quality looks at the other end of the ice. This Duclair goal late in the second was well-earned:
DUCLAIR FOR THE TIE #TimeToHuntpic.twitter.com/M4TZ1USQu4
— That's Hockey Talk (@ThatsHockeyTalk) June 4, 2023
With Barkov and Duclair both in strong offensive form, the correlation here is excellent. On top of this goal, Barkov hit the crossbar on a play that would have resulted in an assist to Duclair.
Duclair continues to look more and more threatening with each game that passes since his Achilles tear. His speed down the wings has been quite threatening the last two rounds, and the chemistry is there right now with Barkov.
If Florida scores the three or four goals needed to win this game tonight, I love the chances that the win involves some damage from this duo.
