NHL Monday best bets: Stars to shine in Game 7
The Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the third round of the playoffs on Sunday night, erasing an early 2-1 deficit en route to an impressive road win over the Edmonton Oilers.
We'll find out who their next opponent is in what should be an exciting Game 7. Let's take a look at the best ways to attack it.
Kraken (+170) @ Stars (-200)The Stars - like the Kraken - have taken their lumps in this series. They have consistently shown resiliency and responded, no matter how bad the previous effort.
The Stars dropped Game 1 on home ice and followed it up with a multi-goal victory. They lost again in Game 3, getting blown out of the rink by a 7-2 scoreline, and followed that up with yet another multi-goal victory.
Bouncing back from off nights is a key sign of a great team, and the Stars have shown that time and time again. Including their first-round series against the Wild, the Stars are 4-0 with a plus-10 goal differential following a loss.
Impressive totals, especially on the biggest stage - but that shouldn't be surprising. The Stars have done this for quite some time. They have lost back-to-back games only once since the beginning of March.
Whether the Stars are faced with a one-goal defeat or blown out of the rink, they consistently rebound with a win. I expect that will be the case against the Kraken in Game 7.
For as vulnerable as the Stars have looked at times this playoffs, they lead all 16 teams in expected goals at five-on-five. They've controlled better than 55% of the xG share and have finished at 66% or higher in three of the past five against these Kraken.
The Kraken are a deep team, but they lack star power and that has been very evident at times.
It's worth noting Dallas' big guns are remarkably more productive on home ice. Roope Hintz (12 points), Joe Pavelski (eight), Jason Robertson (eight), and Miro Heiskanen (seven) have all piled up the points at home. For perspective, Hintz (six) is tied for the team lead in points on the road.
Look for the Stars' top players to shine in Dallas and help guide them to a win inside 60 minutes.
Bet: Stars in regulation (-125)
Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots (-140)Robertson and Heiskanen were the priority targets for shots all season long. They have taken a back seat to Hintz in the playoffs, though.
Hintz leads all Stars skaters in goals, points, shots, scoring chances, and high-danger opportunities through nearly two rounds.
If we isolate the Kraken series, Hintz takes a back seat to Pavelski in a couple of those categories - but shots remain an exception.
He has registered 21 through six games, going over the total in four of six meetings. That success rate is nothing new for Hintz against the Kraken. Throughout their existence, he has generated at least three shots in eight of 12 games.
With the Stars at home in a do-or-die affair, head coach Pete DeBoer will no doubt lean heavily on Hintz and the team's top players. There might not be a tomorrow, and their usage should reflect as much.
Look for Hintz - the team's top offensive threat through two rounds - to make the most of his ice.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
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