Check out our Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 best bets from our hockey experts for the Florida Panthers vs Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, June 13.
The NHL championship series continues – and could conclude – tonight (8 p.m. ET, TNT) with Vegas holding a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven clash.
The Knights now have the opportunity to clinch at home at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Below, check out our hockey crew's top picks for the Cup Final game, including two plays for the goaltenders, as well as a pair of bets for one Vegas Golden Knight.
Adin Hill Under 28.5 Saves (-104)
Nicholas Martin: It can be hard to control all of the bounces in hockey, but one thing you can control is the defensive work rate put forth. The Golden Knights have been excellent defensively this postseason, and that will likely continue in what could be a cagey Game 5.
Outside of a more wide-open Game 1 matchup, Vegas has looked sharp in terms of chance suppression. Adin Hill has averaged just 27.99 saves in this series, and he faced just 23 shots in Game 3 and 29 in Game 4.
Vegas has played the majority of the series with the lead, so it's been rare that game scripts have worked in the favor of this bet either.
Matthew Tkachuk is clearly ailing badly, which has made his line significantly less threatening. Eetu Luostarainen's injury has also left a negative impact on what had been a strong third line for the Panthers.
Vegas should control this game, and on top of that, I do not expect a high-event affair to begin with. This prop is a good way to target both of those ideas.
Pick: Adin Hill under 28.5 saves (-104) |
Sergei Bobrovsky Under 28.5 Saves (-110)
Tony Sartori: Sergei Bobrovsky was put on a pedestal during the Florida Panthers' seemingly magical Cup run, and for good reason. The guy was a phenom between the pipes through the first three rounds, outpacing every other goaltender – by a pretty wide margin – in both SV% and goals saved above expected (GSAx).
However, this is still a guy who got benched for Alex Lyon in the regular season, and the regression many were expecting to hit throughout this playoff push has finally come to fruition in the Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Through the first four games of this series, Bobrovsky has surrendered 13 goals on 104 shots for a fade-worthy .875 SV%.
Granted, the weak blue line in front of him often leaves Bobrovsky out high-and-dry multiple times throughout the game, so I do not put the blame solely on him.
With that said, he has recorded 28 or fewer saves in each of the past three games, and the only time he cleared this number was by the hook in Game 1 with a 29-save performance.
Pick: Sergei Bobrovsky under 28.5 saves (-110) |
Mark Stone Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+100)
Greg Liodice: Mark Stone was held shotless in Game 4. So, do you think that’s going to happen for a second consecutive game with one win away from the Stanley Cup? I’m leaning toward a no on that.
It’s truly incredible seeing what the Vegas captain is doing right now. Months after a back surgery, Stone is averaging a point per game, and he's been one of the more efficient players draped in gold this series. It seems as if Stone’s game has only improved since the start of the playoffs, registering a point in every game played for the Finals.
Before posting a goose egg in the shots department on Saturday, Stone consistently put up at least three shots a game (including one with seven) in the previous five games. Not only that but in this series, he leads forwards in high-danger chances, is second in scoring chances with a 58.18 SCF%, and is sixth in expected goals with a 58.03 xGF%.
He may not be the Conn Smythe winner when it’s all said and done, but he’s certainly one of the more efficient players Vegas could ask for.
DraftKings doesn’t seem to be either optimistic or pessimistic that Stone can register over 2.5 shots, which is marked at +100. Either way, as I look at his game logs over the past six games, I think it’s a solid opportunity to cash in.
The Pick: Mark Stone over 2.5 shots on goal (+100 at DraftKings)
Mark Stone Over 0.5 Points (-175)
Grant White: The Vegas Golden Knights are one win away from hoisting hockey's Holy Grail, and captain Mark Stone is a big reason why. The do-it-all forward has terrorized the Florida Panthers all series, and we expect him to be at his best in a critical Game 5.
Stone has amplified his production in the Stanley Cup Finals. The former All-Rookie has played at least 19:28 and recorded three or more shots in three of the last four games. Moreover, he's driven scoring over the past couple of outings, recording one goal and three assists to move within one point of Jonathan Marchessault for the series lead in scoring.
More importantly, Stone's underlying metrics substantiate sustained output. At five-on-five, he starts 65.3% of his shifts in the attacking zone. Further, he's accounted for 6.1 scoring and 2.3 high-danger chances per game so far this postseason. Those metrics jump to 9.8 and 4.0, respectively, accounting for his time on ice across all strengths.
Like Greg Liodice above, I'm convinced that Stone has saved his best performance for Tuesday night's showdown. Although the price is less tempting, Stone should find his way onto the scoresheet and eclipse his modest point total against the Panthers.
