The Vegas Golden Knights can punch their second-ever ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals – most likely against the Florida Panthers from the East – as they visit the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday with a chance to sweep.

Nitrobetting is here to turn your betting slapshots into winning goals with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. This time, let’s break down the upcoming Game 4 Western Conference Final showdown between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars.

Golden Knights vs. Stars Game 3 2023 NHL Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals Information

• When: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 8:00 PM ET
• Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
• TV: ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS
• Radio: KKGK 98.9 FM (Golden Knights) // Sportsradio 96.7 FM (Stars)
• Live Stream: NHL Network
• NHL Betting Odds: Golden Knights (+1.5) / Stars (-1.5)

READ MORE: Hurricanes vs. Panthers 2023 NHL Playoffs Odds and Game 4 Preview – May 24th

Why Bet on the Vegas Golden Knights?

The Knights took the first two games at home in overtime of this series and then dominated Game 3 in Dallas 4-0 for a 3-0 lead. Adin Hill posted a 34-save shutout. The Golden Knights scored three times in the first 7:10 of the game, giving Hill all the support he’d need. He still turned in a strong outing, while the Vegas defense kept most of the Stars’ shots away from dangerous areas. This was Hill’s fifth straight win, and he’s allowed just 10 goals on 173 shots in that span.

Hill became the first goaltender with a five-game winning streak during his first career postseason appearance since Jacob Markstrom (5-0 in 2020). The only NHL netminders with a longer run during the same playoff year in which they made their postseason debut are Bill Durnan (8-0 in 1944), Antti Niemi (7-0 in 2010), Cam Ward (7-0 in 2006), Ilya Bryzgalov (6-0 in 2006), Vesa Toskala (6-0 in 2006) and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (6-0 in 2003).

Jonathan Marchessault, Ivan Barbashev and William Carrier each scored a goal in the opening 7:10 of the first period as the Golden Knights cruised to a victory in Game 3. It was only the fourth time in 14 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs that the Golden Knights scored first. They’re 4-0 in those games, 7-3 when they don’t.

Marchessault (1:11) scored his second career goal in the opening 90 seconds of a conference finals/semifinals contest (also 0:35 in Game 3 of 2018 CF). He became the fifth player in NHL history with multiple goals in the opening 90 seconds during games taking place in the round before the Stanley Cup Finals, joining Mark Messier, Joe Mullen, Jean Beliveau and Ted Lindsay.

Barbashev scored a power-play goal, dished two assists, doled out three hits and went plus-2. The forward had gone six games without a goal, but managed four assists in that span. He’s up to 13 points, 21 shots on net, 42 hits and a plus-10 rating through 14 playoff contests.

Alex Pietrangelo added the fourth goal in the second period. He’s up to nine points, 23 shots on net, 34 blocked shots, 16 hits, 23 PIM and a plus-7 rating in 13 outings while serving as the Golden Knights’ top blueliner this postseason. Center Howden (lower body) exited Tuesday’s game after aggravating a previous injury, though his removal was considered precautionary. Howden left the contest after logging 7:24 of ice time through two periods.

Vegas is within one win of its second Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history (also 2018). The Golden Knights would be the eighth franchise in league history to reach the Final multiple times within their first six NHL seasons.

“We finished plays right,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “So, you get a lead on the road, it makes it a little bit easier to relax and play, not to chase the game. Puck management, we played behind them, we forecheck, we create turnovers, and we play in the [offensive] zone with puck possession. We’ve talked about that being a big part of our game in the playoffs. We feel we’re doing something to put pressure on them. It wasn’t just luck or a fortunate break, we did it by playing the way we wanted to play.”

Why Bet on the Dallas Stars?

The Stars’ Jake Oettinger stopped two of five shots before being pulled. Between a Jamie Benn game misconduct and a sluggish start from the rest of the Stars, Oettinger found himself out of the game after 7:10 of the first period. He’s now lost three straight contests to open the Eastern Conference Finals, allowing 10 goals on 66 shots in that span. It seems likely that Oettinger keeps starting. Scott Wedgewood stopped 10 of 11 shots in relief. It was Wedgewood’s third relief appearance of the postseason, and he’s allowed four goals on 29 shots.

Benn received a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct. Benn cross-checked Mark Stone when the Vegas captain was already down on the ice. Even with Stone avoiding an injury, Benn was ejected from the contest and may be subject to supplemental discipline for the dirty play. The 33-year-old has 11 points and 51 PIM through 16 playoff contests.

Dallas has never rallied from a 3-0 series deficit, going 0-7 in those series. Vegas is 2-0 in a series when leading it best-of-7.

Golden Knights vs. Stars Betting Trends

• Golden Knights are 7-0 in their last 7 vs. Central.
• Golden Knights are 6-1 in their last 7 road games.
• The total went under in 5 of Vegas’ last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas.
• Stars are 20-6 in their last 26 Thursday games.
• Stars are 9-3 in their last 12 home games.
• The total went under in 7 of Dallas’ last 10 games.

Golden Knights vs. Stars Game 3 Expert Betting Predictions

Knights 3, Stars 2.

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