Panthers vs Golden Knights Game 5 Props: Unsure About Sergei With Season on the Line

With all the injuries surrounding the Florida Panthers tonight and the moneyline moving 50 points from Game 2, bettors could find more value in the NHL player props market for Tuesday night's possible season-ending Game 5 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Sergei Bobrovsky has reverted back to his regular-season self, and Vegas continues to block shots at an alarming rate. So where can bettors apply this information to the betting markets?

Find out in my free Game 5 NHL player prop picks for Panthers vs. Golden Knights, and check out Chris Faria's full Golden Knights vs. Panthers Game 5 betting preview as well.

Panthers vs Golden Knights Game 5 prop picks

• Bobrovsky Under 28.5 saves (-108)
• Hague + Whitecloud Over 1.5 blocked shots (+140)
• Barkov Under 0.5 points (+158)

Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis. Each odds widget below represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated US sportsbooks.

Panthers vs Golden Knights Game 5 props

Bob bowing out

There are a few paths that Sergei Bobrovsky can hit his Under 28.5 saves tonight.

The first is with the Golden Knights playing with the lead. If Vegas gets up early again, look for them to play the dump-in and flip-out game and eat the clock in what could be a Stanley Cup-winning game. The Panthers have dominated the shot attempt share in this series at 5-on-5 because they've been playing from behind early and often. With Vegas having played with a lead for 68% of the series, Vegas could continue to play a structured defensive system while protecting to lead, leading to fewer shots on goal. 

Another angle is Bob not playing the whole game. He's already been pulled once in the series, and if Florida is trailing by multiple goals early, it wouldn't be surprising for Paul Maurice to turn to backup Alex Lyon in a last-ditch effort to motivate his team.

Florida has won the possession game in the series, and with fewer penalties being called in Game 4 and likely again tonight, the successful Vegas power play would get fewer opportunities, which also favors the Under saves market. 

Bob has a 3.74 GAA and a .875 SV% through three-plus games in the series.

Pick: Bobrovsky Under 28.5 saves (-108 at FanDuel)

Covers NHL betting analysis

• Stanley Cup Final staff picks
• Stanley Cup Final odds
• Conn Smythe odds
• Stanley Cup Final matchup info and more

Block party

Over the last two games, the Golden Knights have blocked an insane 61 total shots. Making that even more impressive is that Florida has just 54 shots on net over that time. Vegas is holding the Panthers to low-quality chances which the team is having no issues stepping in front of. With everything on the line tonight with the Cup in the building, tonight will be time to empty the tank for the Knights. 

Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud have impressed in this series. The third-pairing also plays on the second penalty-kill unit and has combined for 21 total blocked shots through four games vs. the Panthers. The duo has hit this 2-leg Over in two straight games, and with the Knights projected to play with the lead again as the moneyline is getting shorter, Vegas and its defense will continue to have great shot-blocking opportunities. 

Florida has a 55% shot attempt share at even strength in this series, and the number of blocked shots and commitment to self-sacrifice this Vegas team is showing is unlike anything bettors have seen before. 

Hague's Over 1.5 at -150 (bet365) is the best value, but with the uncertainty in the scoring of blocked shots (not an exact science), bettors might put themselves in a better position with a plus-money play. That's why I'm running this blocked-shot parlay for a third straight game.

Pick: Hague + Whitecloud Over 1.5 blocked shots (+140 at bet365)

Bearish on Barkov

The Panthers are dealing with a lot of injuries, as Matthew Tkachuk is questionable, but Alex Barkov, Anthony Duclair, and even Brandon Montour are all reportedly playing through some issues. 

Barkov has been playing 5-on-5 with Duclair and Nick Cousins, and although he had two points in Game 4, they were the first for the center in the series. Barkov's Under 0.5 points is a healthy +158, and with Pinnacle currently priced at +122 for the Under 0.5, the Under market is likely to get shorter. The Florida forward has collected a point in 11 of his 20 playoff games, which still makes this Under a profitable play over that stretch.

Barkov could be playing with injured linemates and could be missing Tkachuk on the power play, and Florida is just not projected to score much tonight on the road without the last change. They've failed to score more than two goals in any game in the series excluding overtime, and Adin Hill has posted a .925 SV% and a 2.25 GAA. Vegas is also blocking an unheard of number of shots.

Vegas and their elite blue line have a big advantage tonight, and betting against Barkov at +158 is a great way to wrap up the NHL season. I have Barkov at 0.52 points, but at +158, this is still a +EV play. This price is implying roughly 0.81 points. 

Pick: Barkov Under 0.5 points (+158)

Pages related to this topic