How to Bet Canadiens vs Golden Knights Game 1 – Odds, Trends and Picks
By Robert Duff in NHL Hockey
Updated: June 14, 2021 at 6:17 am EDTPublished:
- The Vegas Golden Knights are -265 favorites to win Game 1 of their Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, June 14th
- Both Montreal (seven games) and Vegas (four games) are riding winning streaks
- Read below for game odds, analysis and a betting prediction
As they prepare to face the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup semifinals, the Vegas Golden Knights come equipped with a resume of impressive accomplishments in their brief four-year history.
Vegas is through to the final four for the third time. The Golden Knights went to the Stanley Cup final in their first season of existence.
However, they’ve never been this heavy of a favorite in a playoff series before. Vegas are the odds-on -500 chalk to take this series from the Canadiens. The Golden Knights are also a solid -265 betting choice to win at home in Game 1 of this best-of-seven set.
Vegas is 4-0 both straight up and against the spread over the club’s past four home games.
 Canadiens vs Golden Knights Odds – Game 1
| Player | Moneyline | Spread at DraftKings | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +220 | +1.5 (-132) | O 5.5 (+112) |
| Vegas Golden Knights | -265 | -1.5 (+110) | U 5.5 (-136) |
Odds as of June 13th
The puck is slated to drop Monday at 9 pm ET for the opener of this series at T-Mobile Arena. NBCSN is carrying the broadcast.
Rest vs Rust
Through two playoff rounds, Montreal has done it the hard way and the easy way. Following a seven-game verdict over Toronto in the opening round, the Canadiens swept the Winnipeg Jets in Round 2.
Vegas also went seven games in Round 1 to dispatch the Minnesota Wild. The Golden Knights lost the opener of Round 2 to the Colorado Avalanche, albeit with a caveat. They opted to rest Marc-Andre Fleury and go with backup goalie Robin Lehner in a 7-1 loss.
In this year’s playoffs, two teams have swept series. Two teams have gone seven games. Both teams that swept first-round series were ousted in the second round. Both teams that went seven games in Round 1 were victors in Round 2 series.
Since 2017, teams that sweep Stanley Cup series are 3-7 straight up in Game 1 of the next round. Teams that required seven games to advance are 8-7 SU in the opening game of the ensuing round.
Canadiens vs Golden Knights Series Odds
| Team | Odds at DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | +375 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | -500 |
Fleury vs Price
Vegas goalie Fleury adorns his fingers with three Stanley Cup rings. He’s been to five Cup final series.
Montreal counterpart Carey Price has never advanced beyond the final four of the NHL playoffs. Price’s peers view him as the best goalie in the game. Certainly, if the NHL’ers go to the 2022 Winter Olympics, Price and Fleury figure to be Canada’s goaltenders.
Of the four #1 netminders still hunting for the Stanley Cup, statisically, Price and Fleury are 1-2. Fleury owns a 1.91 goals-against average. Price’s GAA is at 1.97. His save percentage of .935 is the best.
We're about to witness a Marc-Andre Fleury – Carey Price Stanley Cup semifinal series AND Gossip Girl is putting out new episodes, which is a tweet that would have made a lot more sense in about 2009
— Catherine Silverman (@catmsilverman) June 11, 2021
Price has allowed 13 goals in Montreal’s eight playoff victories. He’s proven his ability to steal both games and series in postseason play.
Fleury has allowed 13 goals in the Golden Knights’ eight playoff wins. However, he’s also 36 and admitted that his legs felt heavy following Game 6 of Round 2. Of further concern to Vegas should be that Lehner missed two of the games against the Avs due to an undisclosed injury.
Injury Updates
The Canadiens are hopeful that forward Jake Evans (concussion) will be returning to action in this series. He’s been out since Winnipeg’s Mark Schiefele hit Evans in Game 1 of Round 2.
Listed as doubtful for the Canadiens is defenseman Jeff Petry (hand). He was hurt in Game 3 against the Jets. Rookie Alexander Romanov is Petry’s replacement.
Jeff Petry pic.twitter.com/Hr4bH4I0mu
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) June 11, 2021
Montreal forward Tomas Tatar (undisclosed) is questionable. Defenseman Jon Merill (undisclosed) is out.
Vegas forward Tomas Nosek (undisclosed) hasn’t been playing since he was hit in Game 2 of the opening round by Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno.
Trendspotting
Through two rounds of the 2021 playoffs, Vegas is 0-2 SU in Game 1. Montreal is 1-1.
The Golden Knights list five players with at least four goals in the playoffs. Four Canadiens have four goals.
In the series b/t @GoldenKnights & @CanadiensMTL Max Pacioretty will become the first former full-time captain of the Habs to face MTL in the @nhl playoffs since Doug Harvey suited up for St.Louis in 1968
— Daren Millard (@darenmillard) June 11, 2021
Since returning from injury, former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty of the Golden Knights has points in all seven playoff games he’s played.
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (+110)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
