Stars vs Golden Knights Game 1 Odds & Picks – Sept 6

• The No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights faceoff against the No. 3 Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final
• Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will be played on Sunday, September 6 at 8pm ET
• Read below for the betting odds, game preview, and predictions

The Vegas Golden Knights are being listed as -167 favorites over the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday, September 6 at 8pm ET. Dallas is being listed at +145 in the Game 1 Stars vs Golden Knights odds.

The Stars beat the Avalanche in seven games in Round 2, while the Golden Knights knocked off the Canucks in the same amount of games. Both teams blew 3-1 series leads, but rallied to win Game 7.

Considering this is the first ever playoff series between the two clubs, how should you bet on Game 1?

Stars vs Golden Knights Game 1 Odds

Odds as of  Sep. 5.

Knights Have Been West’s Best 

There’s a reason the Golden Knights are a top-two favorite in the 2020 Stanley Cup odds. Vegas has looked like a true powerhouse through two playoff rounds, leading all remaining playoff teams in shots per game (37.1), while also ranking first in the conference in goals-against-per-game (2.33). They’re also dominating possession and leading the entire postseason in both Corsi and Fenwick.

level up 😜 #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/65NNeGpMKC

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 5, 2020

The Golden Knights likely would’ve eliminated the Canucks in five games if it weren’t for an incredible goaltending performance from backup goaltender Thatcher Demko. They also would’ve swept the Blackhawks in the previous round if it weren’t for an outstanding 48-save performance from Corey Crawford in Game 4.

The Golden Knights are being favored due to their incredible depth. Alex Tuch, Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault have all scored three or more goals, while Shea Theodore (6G, 10A) is becoming one of the league’s elite blueliners.

Stars Are Silencing Critics 

If there was one knock on the Dallas Stars heading into the 2020 postseason, it was their offense. Dallas ranked 26th in the NHL during the regular season in goals-scored-per-game (2.58). They’ve done a complete 180 in that regard, as the Stars lead all remaining playoff teams with an impressive 3.31 goals-scored-per-game in the postseason.

remember when they said we couldn't score? lol lol lol lol

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) August 23, 2020

Much like the Golden Knights, the Stars have been getting contributions from a variety of players. Joel Kiviranta, an undrafted free agent out of Finland, scored a hat trick in Game 7 against Colorado to propel Dallas to the next round.

Although the offense has been terrific, superstar forward Tyler Seguin has been limited to just two goals and seven points in 15 games. This could be viewed as a positive or negative, as Seguin still has plenty of time to find his game in these playoffs.

Goaltending is the one area that is a bit of a question mark for the Stars. Anton Khudobin looked shaky in Game 7 against the Avalanche, allowing four goals, and owns an 8-5-0 record with a .909 save percentage and 2.94 GAA. Ben Bishop, meanwhile, owns a disastrous .844 save percentage and 5.44 GAA in three starts.

The Best Bet For Game 1

There isn’t much of a rest period for these two teams after wrapping up their respective second-round series on Friday. I’d argue the short layoff benefits Vegas the most, as they have four capable scoring lines capable of stepping up on any given night. They also earned a 5-3 win over Dallas in the round-robin seeding round.

Vegas also oozes more confidence when it comes to goaltending. Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner owns a solid .918 save percentage in these playoffs and turned in a terrific outing in Game 7 against Vancouver. Khudobin has been fighting the puck and has given up four or more goals in three of his last four starts.

Don’t be fooled by the Vancouver and Vegas series going seven games. The Golden Knights put 127 shots on goal in Games 5-7 and simply ran into an incredibly hot goaltender. They’re the best team in the Western Conference Final and should take Game 1 over Dallas.

Pick: Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline (-167)