Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers promises to be a thrilling match-up. With money coming in on the Panthers, the Knights now stand as only -125 favorites to win the series, per a consensus from Pregame.com, with the Panthers standing at +105 underdogs. This gives the Knights implied odds of only 53%, the narrowest price we have seen in a Stanley Cup Final since 2007 when the Anaheim Ducks were only -120 vs. the Ottawa Senators, according to data from SportsOddsHistory.com.  Of course, since we know no Canadian hockey team has won Lord Stanley’s trophy since before the internet, we know how that one turned out.

The Impact of the Vegas Golden Knights' Success on Las Vegas Sportsbooks

The Vegas Golden Knights, the top seed in the West and a lucrative pick for sports bettors this season, are coming off a strong performance in the conference finals, where they initially led 3-0 against the Dallas Stars. They've had an impressive season, with a rewarding 51-31 straight-up (SU) record, netting over +10 Units for their backers, and making +7.8 Units during the playoffs, as highlighted previously on Pregame.com. Despite a couple of wins by the Stars, the Knights, now two-time Stanley Cup Finalists in their six-year history, secured their place in the final with a decisive Game 6 win. They have been one of the favorites to win the West throughout the season, and their strong performance in the postseason reflects that.

The Knights’ success is somewhat of a double-edged sword for Las Vegas sportsbooks, however, be assured they will be wearing black, and gold come Saturday night. According to the Review-Journal, the Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup represents a significant liability for Las Vegas sportsbooks due to the large amount of public money placed on the team by Nevada residents. However, the potential financial loss doesn't seem to deter the enthusiasm for their home team. Jay Kornegay, a frequenter of the T-Mobile Arena and the Vice President of Westgate Sportsbook, believes there are benefits to the Knights' success that extend beyond finances. "Thinking back, we had a tremendous amount of liability attached to the Knights," Kornegay recently told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "But I think it was such a novelty and the city was so on fire that a lot of us were still rooting for the Knights despite the losses we would have incurred had they hoisted the Cup."

His sentiment is echoed by Tony Miller, the Golden Nugget sportsbook director, who openly professes his fandom, regardless of potential losses. "I’m a big fan," he stated recently. "I’m a hometown boy and I’d be cheering for them no matter what."

More than just the pregame pyrotechnics, the Knights' clutch, on-ice fireworks have been truly driving the robust local enthusiasm for the home team.  The Knights have sustained an impressive average of 3.65 goals per game in the playoffs, almost half a goal higher than their regular season average.   Their success in these playoffs can be attributed to their elite depth, where every player managed to tally a point in the conference final - an exceptional feat considering key players like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone combined for just one goal. This potency is further underscored by their forward group, which includes talents like Eichel, Jonathan Marchessault, Mark Stone, and Chandler Stephenson.

Florida Panthers: Defying Expectations and Dominating the Playoffs

From the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers have emerged in the playoffs after a disappointing regular season, where the Florida Panthers posted a 42-40 win-loss record, resulting in a hypothetical loss of -$1,480 for one-hundred-dollar bettors who had backed them in each game.  Despite barely qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs after being the #1 seed in the previous season, the Panthers have exhibited remarkable resilience and a strong competitive spirit in the postseason.? They are the first team in NHL history to enter the postseason as the lowest-seeded club and sweep a best-of-seven series to secure a place in the final.

They defeated the Boston Bruins, the Stanley Cup favorites, in the first round, and proceeded to record an 8-1 combined record against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes in the next two rounds. Matthew Tkachuk has been a standout player for the Panthers, known for his knack for scoring clutch goals. The Panthers also have the advantage in special teams, with their power play scoring on 27.9% of its opportunities, and the Vegas penalty kill having struggled throughout the postseason, per CBS Sports.

Florida’s current playoff record stands at 12-4 straight up (SU). This would have resulted in a profit of $1,450 for bettors who placed $100 on them in each game. Despite the Florida Panthers causing their backers to lose a total of -14.8 units during the regular season, they've made a comeback in the playoffs, generating a profit of +14.5 units. Consequently, a persistent bettor in Dade County, who unwaveringly backed them throughout, is now almost breaking even.

There are some concerns for the Panthers. Panthers defenceman, Marc Staal has played almost 309 minutes at five-on-five and has really struggled, which the Golden Knights could potentially exploit. Moreover, the Golden Knights' defense, which includes Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb, is probably the best pairing in this series, and it could limit the production of Tkachuk.

Overall, this promises to be a close and exciting series. Based on their depth and home-ice advantage, the Golden Knights are favored to win, but the Panthers' impressive performance in the postseason, coupled with their strong special teams, could potentially upset the odds. The puck drops at 8 PM Eastern.

Game 1 Odds

Vegas Golden Knights -135
Florida Panthers +115
O/U: 5.5 (Over -115)

Series Odds

Vegas Golden Knights -125 (Opened -135)
Florida Panthers +105 (Opened +115)

(Odds per Pregame.com)

Odds to Win the Conn Smythe Trophy

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player (MVP) in the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Here are the odds for the top contenders for the 2023 Conn Smythe:

2023 Conn Smythe Trophy odds (Odds via DraftKings Sportsbooks as of 5/30/2023)

Player Odds

FL Sergei Bobrovsky (GK)                +210

FL Matthew Tkachuk (RW)              +290

LV Jack Eichel (C)                              +425

LV William Karlsson (C)                    +700

LV Jonathan Marchessault (RW)    +700

LV Mark Stone (RW)                         11 to 1

LV Adin Hill (GK)                               12 to 1

LV Chandler Stephenson (D)          30 to 1

FL Aleksander Barkov (C)                 50 to 1

FL Carter Verhaeghe (LW)               50 to 1

2023 Stanley Cup Final Schedule

Game 1 – Saturday, June 3: Panthers at Golden Knights at 8:00 PM ET

Game 2 – Monday, June 5: Panthers at Golden Knights at 8:00PM ET

Game 3 – Thursday, June 8: Golden Knights at Panthers at 8:00PM ET

Game 4 – Saturday, June 10: Golden Knights at Panthers at 8:00PM ET

*If necessary:

Game 5* - Tuesday, June 13 (if necessary): Panthers at Golden Knights at 8:00PM ET

Game 6* - Friday, June 16 (if necessary): Golden Knights at Panthers at 8:00PM ET

Game 7* - Monday, June 19 (if necessary): Panthers at Golden Knights at 8:00PM ET

Related: 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final Vegas Preview

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