2020 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Expert Analysis

With the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Finals now set, it’s time to find out whether the underdog Dallas Stars can pull off the series upset or whether the favored Tampa Bay Lightning will cash in for MYBookie hockey betting buffs everywhere. With both teams going all-out to claim the season-ending Stanley Cup championship, let’s find out where the best hockey betting value lies in this intriguing matchup, along with their Stanley Cup odds.

NHL Betting – With Finals Set, Which Team Is Offering Best Betting Value?

2020 Stanley Cup Finals Odds

Series Schedule

Game 1: Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Sept. 21, 8 p.m.
Game 3: Sept. 23, 8 p.m.
Game 4: Sept. 25, 8 p.m.
Game 5: Sept. 26, 8 p.m.
Game 6: Sept. 28, 8 p.m.
Game 7: Sept. 30, 8 p.m.

Dallas Stars (50-32-8)

The Stars have reached the Stanley Cup Finals by dispatching Calgary in six games in the first round, Colorado in seven games in the conference semis and Vegas in five games in the western conference finals. Dallas has advanced despite averaging 2.95 goals per game in the postseason while allowing 3.05 goals per game defensively.

Net-minder Anton Khudobin has been rock-solid in going 12-6 in the postseason with a 2.62 goals-against-average. Defenseman, Miro Heiskanen has racked up a team-high 22 points while dishing out 17 assists. Superstar left-winger Jamie Benn has been fantastic in posting 18 points and eight goals while right-winger Denis Gurianov has recorded nine goals and eighth assists. Star center Joe Pavelski is tied with Gurianov for a team-high nine goals (14 points) while defenseman John Klingber ranks fourth in scoring in the postseason with 16 points, that have largely on 13 assists. In total, seven players have reached double figures in scoring for the Stars this postseason.Dallas has won three straight games and five of their last six games overall heading into the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Dallas Stars have shown an exceptional ability to persevere as they won all four games against Vegas by a lone goal.

“We know we’re not going to control a game for 60 minutes at this level. You have to have that mentality that we’re going to bend a little bit here, we’re going to need some lines to get us going, get back to play our game. And that’s crucial: the ability to roll four lines like we do and have everyone on the same page,” coach Rick Bowness said. “Our players do have that confidence. The attitude of the players is huge. No matter the score, we have faith that we will get our game going again.”

Tampa Bay Lightning (57-25-7)

Tampa Bay bounced Columbus out of the postseason in five games in the first round before dispatching Boston in an identical five games in the conference semis. The Lightning took out the upstart New York Islanders in six games in the Eastern Conference finals.

Tampa Bay has averaged 3.1 goals per game in the postseason while limiting the opposition to just 2.2 goals per contest. The Lightning put seven goals on the board against Boston in Game 3 before stunning the Islanders with an eight-goal explosion in Game 1 of the conference finals.

Star right-winger Nikita Kucherov has scored a team-high 26 points (6 goals) while center Brayden Point has added 25 points and a team-high nine goals. Defenseman Victor Hedman has also put nine goals on the board while dishing out six assists and left-winger Ondrej Palat has added eight goals and five assists. In all, six players have recorded double figures in scoring for the Lightning. Not only that, but Tampa Bay has succeeded despite not having star center Steven Stamkos, who has been out for the postseason with a lower body injury. , Tampa Bay has also added a new level of physicality to their high-scoring ways as noted by Boston veteran center Brad Marchand.

“They have a bit of a different makeup now; they compete a lot harder,” Marchand said recently. “They are a lot more physical and, obviously, they have a ton of talent. They’re very fast, have a great goalie, they have everything.”

Series Prediction

While I am impressed with the way Dallas beat Vegas in the Western Conference finals, the Stars didn’t exactly blow the Golden Knights out while recording two of their four series wins in overtime. Vegas struggled to get their offense untracked at the worst time possible and I just don’t see that being the case against a Tampa Bay squad that can put points on the board in their collective sleep.

Not only do the Lightning have the big edge offensively, but they’re actually the better defensive team as well, having limited the opposition’s scoring by recording a collective .926 save percentage to Dallas’ .908 save percentage mark. Tampa Bay averages just over 55 shots per game in the playoffs while Dallas is putting up just over 47 shots per contest.

While Dallas won both regular season meetings in overtime, I’m expecting Tampa Bay to come out on top in the Stanley Cup Finals by beating Dallas at both ends of the ice. The Lightning are hungry and long overdue for a Stanley Cup title and this time around – they’ll get it – in six games!