The Dallas Stars managed to stave off elimination with an overtime victory in Game 4, but can they force a Game 6? It’s going to be tight. Read on for odds, news, predictions, and best bets. And, don’t forget to check out the VSiN Hockey Betting Podcast Monday – Friday throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Updated betting odds and projections for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final
The goaltending was on point in Game 4. Jake Oettinger was great. He allowed two goals, but both Golden Knights’ goals were virtually impossible to stop so Oettinger made every stop he could have made. The same would have been said about Adin Hill, too, but the Stars did hit two posts in the game, and Joe Pavelski was able to beat the Vegas goaltender cleanly in overtime, albeit, after a chaotic sequence.
Like the first two games, there was no margin for error in Game 4, and it’s the first time an overtime goal went the Stars way in the series. In fact, it was the first time in the playoffs that the Stars won in overtime, and they’re going to need a lot of luck to win three more games like that. Oettinger will have to be near perfect, or Hill will regress, because I don’t like their chances (13 percent) of winning three straight coin flips.
Shot attempts were mostly even, but the Stars finished the game with a 54 percent edge in expected goals, according to Evolving Hockey. It was the third game in a row that Dallas owned a bigger share of the expected goals which illustrates just how hard it is to win games against the Vegas Golden Knights. Even when you’re on your best, they can still beat you.