The Vegas Golden Knights have slim postseason chances – but that’s better than none. Vegas gets a break in the scheduling on Tuesday night, matched up with one of the teams they are trying to chase down for the second wild card spot in the Dallas Stars.
Coming into Tuesday night’s matchup at the American Airlines Center, the Stars (93) have a slight three-game lead over the Golden Knights for the final playoff spot. Vegas hasn’t done themselves any favors down the stretch with losses in three of their last four games, and things don’t get any easier in Dallas, where the Stars are 25-10-3 on the year.
Golden Knights at Stars Stats
The Vegas offense continues to play well down the stretch with 4+ goals scored in five of their last seven games. Unfortunately, they are just 3-2-2 over that span which isn’t the type of production you want in the win/loss column when trying to claw your way back into the playoff race.
The good news for the Golden Knights on Tuesday’s NHL betting odds is that Dallas comes into this game having lost three of their last four as well. The bad news is that all three of those defeats came in Canada on a recent road trip, and the Stars bounced back with a 3-2 win over the Kraken on Saturday. That was also the last game for Dallas, so they’ve had an extra day of rest compared to Vegas, who lost Sunday in SO at home against San Jose.
Golden Knights Stats
Vegas was one of the preseason favorites to make the Stanley Cup Finals, but they just haven’t been able to put solid offense and sound defense together at the same time. That was no more evident than in Sunday’s game, where they found the back of the net four times but still lost 5-4 to a Sharks team that is 30th in the NHL in goals/game.
Part of the Golden Knights’ struggles down the stretch has been due to Robin Lehner not being totally healthy between the pipes, and he’s officially been shut down for the year for shoulder surgery. That means even if Vegas could climb their way back into the postseason, they’d be a little short in net.
Logan Thompson has started the last two games in goal for Vegas and in four of the last five, so he’ll likely give it a go for Tuesday’s NHL picks. He’s been pretty solid for a rookie, holding opponents to two goals or less in 6 of his last 10 appearances – but showing signs of youth in serving up 4+ in the other four.
Stars Stats
Dallas had a rocky visit through Canada with losses to Vancouver (6-2), Edmonton (5-2), and Calgary (4-2), but that’s also a pretty tough four-day gauntlet. The Stars started off slow on Saturday, getting down 0-2 to the Kraken, but scored three unanswered in the 2nd period to get the 3-2 win and get back on track.
Tuesday’s game isn’t necessarily a must-win for the Stars because they do have a favorable last two games, at home against the Ducks and then hosting last place Arizona. That doesn’t mean Dallas still wouldn’t take the win just to build momentum into the playoffs and build upon a solid home record.
Jake Oettinger may get some rest over the final two games of the regular season, but we will likely see him in net for Tuesday’s NHL expert picks for the Stars. Only four of Oettinger’s last 10 starts have been at home, but he’s held opponents to two goals or less in three of those outings.
Matchup Information
Golden Knights at Stars Betting Trends
- Golden Knights are 4-9 last 13 road games
- Stars are 24-10 last 34 home games
- Golden Knights are 3-9 last 12 vs. Central
- Stars are 1-4 last five games following a win
- Stars are 5-1 last 6 on two days rest
Golden Knights at Stars Betting Picks
This should be a solid Western Conference matchup in the NHL betting odds as the Golden Knights are fighting for their postseason lives while Dallas has been really good at home all season. Thompson has been solid for a rookie in net for Vegas, while Oettinger on his own ice is usually a sure bet as well.
Oddsmakers are expecting this to be a close one, releasing a split line at -110 for both teams. One would think that may give the Stars the edge playing on their own ice, but at the same time – why aren’t they priced as a true favorite?
Conclusion
Expect this game to have the intensity of a playoff matchup, and that means the defenses are going to be amped up. That makes the under 5.5 the best play on the board.
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