8:10 pm
September 14

Stars v. Golden Knights

Who will WIN this matchup?

Dallas Stars

Vegas Golden Knights

 

Starting Goalies:

Anton Khudobin (DAL): Unconfirmed

Robin Lehner (VGK): Unconfirmed

 

Current odds:

Dallas Stars: (+155)

Vegas Golden Knights: (-175)

 

The Dallas Stars are in an unlikely spot, but they don’t doubt they’re deserving to be one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2000. As the Stars ready to face the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday in Edmonton, it’s with the opportunity to clinch the Western Conference final in five games. Dallas has been outshot and outplayed for most of the best-of-seven series so far, but thanks to timely goals and top-shelf goaltending from Anton Khudobin they lead the series 3-1. Since the 1982 playoffs — when the NHL adopted the conference format — teams with a 3-1 lead in the conference finals have won 34 of 35 series. Teams leading 3-1 in any NHL best-of-seven series have won 91 percent of the time. All of which leaves the Golden Knight in an uphill climb.

That said, the Golden Knights know all too well how a series can change. They held a 3-1 lead on the Vancouver Canucks last round, but ran into a red-hot goaltender and needed a seventh game to advance. “We stuck with it, said Vegas coach Pete DeBoer. “This is a long way from over, and we’re going to be a tough out.” Not if the Golden Knights can’t solve Khudobin. The Dallas goaltender has stopped 119 of 125 shots in this series, although he’s not willing to take that much credit. “I just try to find the puck and react to it,” Khudobin said. “I don’t know if it’s luck or whatever, but let’s call it luck.” However, as the adage goes, “you must be good to be lucky,” and Khudobin’s luck has the Stars believing in their chances every game. “We play with confidence,” forward Corey Perry said. “Dobby made some big saves for us in timely situations and that’s confidence. It starts with Dobby and goes all the way out.” It puts the onus on the Golden Knights to crack that confidence.

Neither coach would provide updates on the status of players injured in Game 4 — Roope Hintz of Dallas and Mark Stone of Vegas. Stone blocked a shot with his foot/ankle and finished the game but was in obvious pain. Hintz left midway through the first period. If he can’t play, watch for Justin Dowling to skate.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Vegas Golden Knights