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NHL Stanley Cup Finals Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Game 5 (Panthers vs. Golden Knights)

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We saw a champion crowned in the NBA last night as the Denver Nuggets captured their first title in franchise history. The Vegas Golden Knights (3-1) will now have the opportunity to raise the Stanley Cup for the first time in their youthful history. They return home to try and close out their series with the Florida Panthers tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

I'm locking in a wager on both a side and the total in Game 5. Let's dive into my picks and analysis!

Today's Best NHL Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Florida Panthers (+146) at Vegas Golden Knights (-176) | 5.5 (-124/+102)

I'm rolling with the Golden Knights to win Game 5 and hoist their first Stanley Cup in franchise history tonight. It comes with a pretty juicy price tag at -176, but I truly think it's the best betting option in terms of a side. 

Sure, they were able to cover the puck line in both Games 1 (5-2) and 2 (7-2), but the Panthers adjusted and won Game 3 outright (3-2 OT) while only losing Game 4 by one goal (3-2). This Florida squad is not going down without a fight, we know that. They're 3-0 this postseason when facing elimination. However, I think this is where the magic runs out for the Panthers, albeit in a close contest.

Speaking of fights, they've tried all of the post-whistle shenanigans in the book and they haven't been able to get under the Golden Knights' skin. Bruce Cassidy instilled these disciplines into his team from Day 1 and the players are experienced enough not to fall for those tricks. 

So, they're more disciplined, more skilled, bigger, and just as fast as the Panthers. Vegas has been able to control the center of the ice all series and divert incoming traffic to boards, making zone entries tough for Florida's offense. I expect that to continue and all things point to the Golden Knights getting it done at home tonight.

Best Side Bet: Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline (-176)

Sergei Bobrovsky bounced back at home in Games 3 and 4 of the series, giving up just five goals on 58 shots (.914 SV%). The netminder played well enough to keep his team in those games - especially since they found themselves short-handed seven times.

I think it'll be a different story tonight. I do not expect Florida to revert back to their performances in Games 1 and 2, where they allowed 12 combined goals. However, I think the Golden Knights are going to come out firing offensively. I lean towards us seeing the Vegas team that won 6-0 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against Dallas. They allowed the Stars to hang around too long in that series before they finally put together a complete game and buried them. Look for a similar approach in this one. 

On the flip side, it's do-or-die time for the Cats. They're going to turn it into overdrive and try to match Vegas' intensity. I think they'll find enough offensive success where this total sneaks over the 5.5-goal mark. Let's lay the juice with the over in Game 5. 

Best Total Bet: Over 5.5 (-124)

Make sure to check out all of our best bets for Tuesday:


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