NHL Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Golden Knights vs. Capitals
Published May 28, 2018 by Sol FH
Game 1 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals gets underway tonight at 1:00 GMT.
It has been a long road to get here, but, we are finally left with two teams vying for the chance to raise the Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals will be facing off for the first time in the franchises' history. Mainly because of the Golden Knights and the fact that this is their first year in the NHL, and what an incredible start they have had. Some even call it beginners luck, but, with a star-studded roster, Vegas is no joke.
For the Capitals, it is their first time in the Stanley Cup since 1997-98, but they have never won. It was a wild ride for the Caps to get here. They finally beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2, which was one of the fiercest battles they had to overcome in the playoffs. Next, they shocked the Tampa Bay Lightning by winning the Conference Finals in seven games which brought them to the finals.
The Golden Knights were able to save energy in the Conference Finals by crushing the Winnipeg Jets four games to one, and have had the opportunity to rest, practice, and mentally prepare for the Finals. This could be the advantage that Vegas needs to outlast the Capitals. It should be an excellent series, as the Capitals are dying to raise the cup, with Ovechkin, Oshie, Backstrom pushing as hard as possible to make this happen. With such an incredible career, Ovechkin is in his first Finals, and after taking so long to get here, he will be doing everything in his power, on and off the ice, to get the win.
Betting Lines
The Stanley Cup Finals are of the most wagered-upon event in sports. 888 Sport and Betfair Sports are two of the online bookmakers that are focused on offering competitive odds for every game of the Finals, both before the first whistle, and, throughout all of the action during the game. Before Game 1, 888 Sport likes the Vegas Golden Knights to win their home-opener and have posted at 2.14 for a win. Betfair Sports' odds are even more in favor of Vegas' chances at 2.00. For the Capitals, the odds are not that far off, and this might be the smart bet to make with 888 Sport at 2.95, while Betfair Sports is at 2.80.
Throughout the game, there will be some live in play odds being offered, which is a great way to leverage the competitive bets with your knowledge of the game.
