NHL.com identifies key gameday matchups and players to watch throughout the 2023-24 season.
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Note: Betting lines provided by Betway (U.S., Ontario)
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1. Game 1: Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars (9:30 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, BSSW, ESPN, FX-CA, SN360, TVAS)
3-way moneyline:
VGK regulation win: +180
Draw at end of regulation: +310
DAL regulation win: +120
The Golden Knights won all three regular-season matchups against the Stars, with two of the games going past regulation, outscoring them 10-4. Dallas finished the regular season 12-2-0 in their final 14 games with 11 of those victories coming in regulation; Vegas was 12-6-1 in its final 19 games with five of those games going into extra time.
Golden Knights forwards William Karlsson, Mark Stone and Nicolas Roy were tied for the lead in the season series with three points (one goal, two assists) each; Stone (lacerated spleen) has not played since Feb. 20 but is expected to return for Game 1. Karlsson and Stars forward Jason Robertson were tied for the lead in goals (five each in six games) during their Western Conference Final series last postseason, which Vegas won in six games. Dallas center Roope Hintz was tied for third in the NHL in points (24 in 19 games) last postseason.
2. Game 2: New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSSO, ESPN2, TVAS2, SN360)
NYI moneyline: +190
CAR moneyline: -225
The Hurricanes had a 3-1 home win against the Islanders in Game 1, but the game was tied in the third period. Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen has now won 10 of 11 games since returning from a blood clotting issue. The teams split their regular-season series, with the road team winning all four games. The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders during the Eastern Conference First Round last postseason in six games, led by forward Sebastian Aho’s seven points (four goals, three assists) in six games.
Carolina forward Martin Necas, who had its most points (five in four games) during the regular-season series against the Islanders, had multiple points (one goal, one assist) in Game 1. New York forward Anders Lee led all players in Game 1 with seven shots on goal and also had an assist in the loss.
3. Game 1: Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, TVAS2, ESPN2, BSSC)
Over 6.5 total goals: +115
Under 6.5 total goals: -150
The Oilers have defeated the Kings in each of the past two postseasons, but Los Angeles had 4-3 road wins in both Game 1s of those series; Edmonton won the 2022 series in seven games and the 2023 series in six games. The Oilers won three of the four games in the regular-season series, narrowly outscoring the Kings 10-9. Edmonton finished the season 1-3-1 in its final five games, with three of those games having totals of six or fewer goals. Los Angeles was 6-2-0 in its final eight games with five of those games having totals of five or fewer goals.
Oilers forward Connor McDavid had seven points (two goals, five assists) in four games against the Kings in the regular season and has 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 13 games against them over the past two postseasons combined. Los Angeles forward Adrian Kempe has its most points (14 in 13 games) against Edmonton over the past two playoffs combined.
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