With the Golden Knights-Hurricanes series tied 1-1, bettors target home-ice value, player props, and momentum-driven markets
Some key storylines to be aware of as you sit with your morning coffee and make your wagers for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Home crowds have fueled the Golden Knights during their playoff run so far. With the series tied 1-1, home dominance under head coach John Tortorella makes the Golden Knights a popular pick on the moneyline.
A red flag for bettors is the status of Golden Knights’ defenceman Brayden McNabb, who took a puck to the face to Game 2 Thursday night, and is listed publicly as day-to-day.
Keep an eye on this status throughout the day, since you saw what happened Thursday when Vegas was forced to go down to five defencemen.
They’d replace him with another body if he can’t go, obviously, but McNabb, at 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, is a veteran shutdown defenseman, shot-blocker, physical, adept at neutralizing opponents’ top forwards, and is a key part of the Vegas’ penalty kill.
His absence will weaken the blue line noticeably.
Carolina’s resilience is another thing to watch out for. The Hurricanes erased a two-goal deficit in Game 2, to tie the game then win in overtime.
And a big part of that comeback was the resurgence of Seth Jarvis, who scored the overtime goal on the power play.
In NHL betting at Betway this morning, the Hurricanes are slight favourites to win the Stanley Cup, at -135, with the Golden Knights at +110.
BEST BETS
Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights, tonight, 8 p.m. EST, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV.
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1.
On Betway this morning, it’s a pick-em on the moneyline, with both teams priced at -110. On the puckline, the Hurricanes are -1.5 (+225), and the Golden Knights are +1.5 (-300). The total is set at 5.5 goals with the over at -125 and the under at +105.
Golden Knights to Win (-110)
I am taking home ice advantage at this point. But I’m also keeping a close eye on McNabb’s status throughout the day.
Seth Jarvis Over 0.5 Points (-140)
Jarvis is heating up with that overtime goal, on the Hurricanes’ No. 1 line, along with Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho.
Jarvis is getting high quality chances this series, and with an uptick in ice time, being a fixture on Carolina’s first power play unit, and with good linemates, over 0.5 points is a solid play for tonight.
Over 5.5 (-125)
One of the big surprises watching this series through two games is how both teams can overwhelm the opposition’s sound, stable defensive structures and solid goaltending to score goals in bunches.
The first two games hit the over easily – 5-4 in Game 1, and Carolina’s 4-3 win in overtime in Game 2.
That Vegas home crowd will push the pace even more. Hart and Andersen have both been good throughout the playoffs, but even Martin Brodeur-level goaltending couldn’t withstand the pace you’ll see tonight, making the over on that 5.5 very realistic.
Other bets I like: First Period Both Teams to Score (+185), Jack Eichel Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-120), and Mitch Marner Over 0.5 Assists (-140).
