By near universal acclaim the Stanley Cup Playoffs are regarded as the best in all of professional sports. Even non-hockey fans acknowledge this fact. The NHL post season sets itself apart because of its unpredictability. Every year there is a new Cinderella story. Take the 2018 season as an example. A first-year expansion team known as the Vegas Golden Knights went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. In 2012 the eighth and last seed of the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings, hoisted Lord Stanley’s mug. With that in mind the Dallas Stars making the Western Conference Final is the latest proof that the NHL offers a playoff spectacular like no other. Dallas will face Vegas in the 2020 Western Conference Final.
2020 Western Conference Final – Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars
Series Prices at BookMaker.eu
Dallas Stars +216
Vegas Golden Knights -251
Series Format: Best of Seven
2020 Western Conference Final Odds Analysis
Despite being in only their third year of existence the Vegas Golden Knights are firmly ensconced as a public team. Locals in Sin City are crazy about the first major league franchise that they can call their own. Fueling that is the on-ice success of the team itself. Even casual fans are familiar with Vegas and their 2018 run. This goes a long way towards explaining their expensive series price against a relatively anonymous Dallas Stars club. Both the Golden Knights and Stars were top four teams in the West.
Dallas Stars Path to the Western Conference Final
Dallas defeated the Calgary Flames in the first round 4-2 and then eliminated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in the second round. In both series the Stars were near death only to rally with courageous comebacks indicative of their character. In the seventh game against the Avalanche Joel Kiviranta was the hero with the game tying goal at the 16:30 mark and then the overtime winning goal to follow.
Vegas Golden Knights Path to the Western Conference Final
In the first round the Golden Knights steamrolled the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. In the second round Vegas jumped all over the Vancouver Canucks to take a 3-1 series lead only to almost blow it. Vancouver extended the series to a final seventh game in which Vegas broke a scoreless tie with under seven minutes to play in a final 3-0 win.
Dallas Stars Players to Watch
Defenseman Miro Heiskanen has been a key asset for Dallas with five goals, 16 assists, and a plus two. Right wing Denis Gurianov has eight goals, seven assists and a plus one. Center Joe Pavelski has added eight goals and four assists.
Vegas Golden Knights Players to Watch
Defenseman Shea Theodore has six goals with 10 assists and a plus six. Right wing Mark Stone has added six goals with nine assists. Fellow right wing Alex Tuch has eight goals.
Between the Pipes
Dallas goaltender Anton Khudobin is 8-5 with a 2.94 goals against average and .909 save percentage.
Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner is 8-4 with a 1.99 goals against average, save percentage of .918, and three shutouts.
Head to Head Results
Vegas has won seven of their previous nine meetings with Dallas including two of the three meetings this year. On August 3 in the round robin the Golden Knights defeated the Stars 5-3. Just three of the nine meetings between these two teams went over the total.
2020 Western Conference Final NHL Odds Pick
After struggling for the past two seasons to light the lamp the Stars rank fourth in the NHL playoffs for goal scoring. They also rank third for money won in the post season. Vegas is strong but overpriced. Dallas is a team hitting its peak at the perfect time.
2020 Western Conference Final Prediction: Dallas Stars
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