Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Vegas +140 over Carolina

NHL Finals Game 2

8:00 PM EST. One of the talking points making the rounds after Game 1 was that Carolina got away from its identity. Analysts were suggesting the Hurricanes got dragged into a wide-open game and that a lower-scoring affair would favor them in Game 2. We don't buy that argument at all. Carolina played its usual style. This wasn't some track meet with endless odd-man rushes. The shot totals were modest, the checking was tight, and the territorial battle looked much like what we've come to expect from the Hurricanes. The difference wasn't style of play. The difference was goaltending.

Frederik Andersen once again reminded everyone why he's difficult to trust when the stakes are highest. We said before the series that he had not faced a dangerous offensive team through the first three rounds. Ottawa, Philadelphia, and Montreal simply don't possess the finishing ability that Vegas does. The Golden Knights can bury their chances, and when Andersen makes mistakes, they tend to end up in the back of the net. That's exactly what happened in Game 1. Carolina's structure was largely intact. Its goaltender was not.

The final score also masks how competitive the game really was. Vegas was not dominated. The shot totals were close throughout, the territorial battle was reasonably even, and the Golden Knights proved they could generate offense against one of the league's strongest defensive teams. In fact, after falling behind almost immediately and then trailing 2-0, Vegas stormed back and showed tremendous resilience. The Golden Knights erased deficits, grabbed leads, and demonstrated that they are fully capable of trading punches with Carolina over a long series.

Yet despite everything we saw in Game 1, the market continues to price Vegas as though it's clearly the inferior team. We disagree. Carolina may own a slight edge in puck possession and offensive-zone time, but Vegas counters with elite finishing ability, championship experience, and what we believe is the more trustworthy goaltending situation. The Golden Knights had every chance to win Game 1 and they'll have every chance to win Game 2. At +140, we're still getting the better of it and we're happy to take another shot with Vegas.

Take advantage of BET365's early NFL payout offer

Bet365 Early Payout – How It Works

Straight Bets:

If the team you back to win goes up by the designated number of points at any time during the game, BET365 will pay out your bet in full immediately, even if the opposing team later comes back and wins the game.

Parlays & Same Game Parlays:
If a team you’ve selected goes up by the designated number of points that selection will be marked as WON in My Bets. Any remaining legs of the parlay will continue to run as normal.

Once a selection is marked as won under the Early Payout rules, it cannot be reversed, regardless of what happens later in the game.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------