We’re finally here. The Stanley Cup Finals. Just two remaining teams, the #1 seed in the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights and the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers. Tonight we have Game 1 in Vegas. Let’s fucking go.
Game 1: Golden Knights vs. Panthers (8:00)
I broke this series down in depth in a LONG blog yesterday. I have futures on both of these teams still alive, with a two unit future from November on the Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup with fantastic value at +1200 and half a unit at an insane value of +4000 on Sergei Bobrovsky to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. Both of those look beautiful now, as the Knights are -130 favorites to win the Cup and Bob is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe at +215. The ideal scenario for me is a Golden Knights win in seven games that are all low-scoring with a player from the losing team winning the Conn Smythe for the first time since Jean-Sebastien Giguere won it in 2003 as the Mighty Ducks lost the Cup to the Devils. This long run that the Panthers have gone on, going 11-1 since being down 3-1 to the Bruins in the first round to knock off the #1 seed Bruins, the #3 seed Leafs, and the #2 seed Hurricanes has been incredible. What a run it’s been and it reminds me of the 2012 LA Kings, that were a team of destiny that won on the back of incredible goaltending of Jonathan Quick. Sergei Bobrovsky has played at an insane level these playoffs and if it weren’t for his performance in goal and a good amount of luck on their side, the Panthers wouldn’t be here just four games away from lifting the Stanley Cup. That being said, after the second longest layoff in NHL history between a series with ten days off in Lauderdale, I think that run is over. The Golden Knights are the better team in this series and have played better both offensively and defensively than the Panthers have in these playoffs. The only way I see the Panthers winning this series is if Bobrovsky steals it, but with the much better defense and much deeper team in general, I think this year’s Stanley Cup Champions are the Vegas Golden Knights. Expecting the Golden Knights to win the Cup, I’ll double down on them in Game 1 with a unit on the moneyline at home in the fortress. I expect the games in this series to trend under on the incredible play by Bobrovsky in goal for the Panthers and the fantastic defense of the Golden Knights. Both of these teams trended under in the conference finals. I think every game will be a defensive battle and I’ll start the Cup Finals with the alternate under 6 in Game 1 for half a unit.
Game Bets
1u Golden Knights ML (-132)
.5u Golden Knights/Panthers under 6 (-129)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1200)
.5u Sergei Bobrovsky – Conn Smythe Trophy Winner (+4000)
Record: 808-676-35 (-93.42 units)
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A Town's Zone 