ROGERS' 10* NHL GAME 1 HOT TOPIC!
(NHL) Florida vs. Vegas, 06/03/2023 8:00 PM, Score: 2 - 5
Money Line: -123.00 Vegas (Home)
Result: Win
It’s been quite a ride through the playoffs for us and the teams. Now is when the Panthers take the truth serum of the Knights. Are they for real? Is Bobrovsky for real? Can Tkachuk keep doing what he’s been doing? Can the Panther’s patchwork defense keep it together? Is Paul Maurice a genius?

Looking at Bobrovsky’s save % we think it’s otherworldly. Hill’s is comparable and in the regular season it is superior to Bobrovsky’s. Carolina’s approach is volume of shots from wherever (shot heat maps show the vast majority from the outside), so they made it easy for Bobrovsky to look impressive. Vegas gets to the dirty areas and they will expose Bobrovsky like Carolina never did.

Tkachuk’s playoff history was mediocre before this year. What’s different about this year? He’s playing against the Eastern Conference, not the Western Conference. He has had his way with Carolina, Toronto and surprisingly, Boston with little or no pushback. Vegas is a different story and he will get push back.

The depth Vegas has upfront will expose the Panthers’ defence and show us that Forsling and Gudas aren’t what we might have thought they were and Marc Staal is not a top four defenceman. Vegas’ third line with Karlsson, Smith and Marchesault will feast on Staal and the Panthers’ third pairing when they get a chance. Vegas’ fourth line will punish the Panthers’ in their own end.

With respect to Paul Maurice we’ll find out when his team comes up against a powerful Vegas team that has quietly worked through the Western Conference under the skilled guidance of Bruce Cassidy who’s former team, the Bruins, sputtered in the playoffs without him. Take Vegas on the Money Line.