Vegas Chosen as “Hub City” for 2020 NHL Playoffs; Are Golden Knights a Good Bet to Win West at +340?

• Las Vegas has reportedly been chosen as a hub city for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs
• Vegas has been dominant at T-Mobile Arena since entering the league
• Are the Golden Knights good value at +340 favorite to come out of the Western Conference?

Vegas will be a hub city for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, according to a report by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. A Canadian city is expected to serve as the other hub, with Toronto being the front-runner.

The Golden Knights earned a bye to the 16-team playoff by having the third-best point percentage in the Western Conference. They’re being listed as the favorite in the 2020 Western Conference odds.

Although there won’t be any fans in the stands, does Vegas have an advantage playing in their city? Would the NHL consider moving VGK to the other hub?

2020 Western Conference Odds

Odds as of June 13th. 

“Home Ice Advantage”

While there aren’t expected to be any fans in attendance for the 2020 playoffs, there’s no denying that Vegas would at least have a bit of an advantage playing in their own city. They know T-Mobile Arena better than anyone and are aware of any unique traits pertaining to the ice, boards, and glass.

Vegas players will also have the luxury of being close to their friends and family. All the players will be quarantined, but other teams won’t have that same familiarity with the area. There’s also the “Vegas Hangover” element, as some teams have struggled against their next opponent following a trip to Vegas. That may not be as prominent during a pandemic, however.

The Golden Knights are an impressive 75-33-11 at home since entering the league. While it’s no guarantee they play their games at T-Mobile instead of a different Vegas arena – or that they will even be placed in this hub – they will have a slight advantage if they get to play in the comfort of their own city.

Knights Rested and Retooled 

Vegas is one of many teams that will benefit from this long break in action. Two-way forward Mark Stone has arguably been the team’s MVP this season and was sidelined with a lower-body injury prior to the NHL’s pause. He’s set to return when the league resumes.

"I'm excited. I want to compete for the Stanley Cup. I want to play hockey and get back to work. I want to entertain people. The first two skates at City National, I never felt uneasy or uncomfortable." -Mark Stone on virus-related health concerns

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 11, 2020

The Knights were a dominant 11-2 in their last 13 games before the break. One reason for their recent success is trade-deadline acquisition Robin Lehner, who is 3-0-0 with a .940 save percentage with his new team. Marc-Andre Fleury has had an up-and down year, so having another talented goaltender in the fold is huge for a playoff run.

The Golden Knights led the entire league in both Corsi (54.76) and Fenwick (54.98) this season. A healthy Mark Stone and a solid goaltending tandem makes them one of the most complete teams in the league.

Best In the West?

There are some other quality contenders in the West, including Colorado and St. Louis. The Avalanche are great on offense, but they’re inexperienced in the crease with Pavel Francouz and Philipp Grubauer.

The Blues are built for the playoffs and could be Vegas’ biggest threat. What’s important to note is that these playoffs will be reseeded after every round instead of using a bracket system. These two teams could meet in the West semis or the Conference Final. The Golden Knights exploded for 11 goals and took both regular-season meetings in 2020.

Vegas made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year in the league. If it weren’t for an incorrect major penalty call in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Sharks last season, there’s no telling just how far they would’ve gone in year two.

Betting Advice

WIth 24 teams in contention for the Cup this season, these playoffs have a chance to produce some crazy stories. With a healthy Mark Stone and a strong goaltending tandem, Vegas winning the West is one of the safer bets you can make.

The Eastern Conference has some very talented teams in the Bruins, Lightning and Flyers, so I’d shy away from betting Vegas straight up to win the Cup. But when you consider the Golden Knights’ dominance leading up to the pause and the potential advantages they’ll have playing in their own city,  +340 is a fair price.