We have a game under our belt in the Stanley Cup Final, which helps to paint us a bit of a picture on how these two teams match up, and which lines may find space to operate in the offensive zone. While it's important to not throw all of your eggs into whatever basket we just saw transpire in Game 1, there are a few names that were on my radar Saturday that delivered strong volume that's worth backing in Game 2.
Vladimir Tarasenko over 1.5 SOG (-145 ESPN BET/DraftKings)
I still don't quite realize how Vladimir Tarasenko ended Game 1 with just two SOGs in the box score, as I saw at least 2-3 more than were never counted.
Luckily, the numbers back the eye-test up a bit, so I'm not going crazy. Tarasenko led Florida in expected goals on Saturday, and he logged six shot attempts in all.
Tarasenko now has 5+ attempts in four straight, and he has 12 SOG on 20 attempts across his last four in Florida.
I liked him before Game 1, and I'm going to him again after seeing how many chances he was generating. Tarasenko and this third line should continue to see softer matchups and avoid Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and that should bring with it opportunity that I'm jumping on, even if the price isn't quite where I'd like it to be for a straight bet.
Connor McDavid over 3.5 SOG (+110 DraftKings)
I'm just going to trust the volume and the talent with a bet on McDavid, even if I still trust the Edmonton side more when they're on home ice.
Edmonton's captain finished with six shots on goal Saturday on eight attempts, the fourth time in the last five games he's gone for 8+ attempts.
McDavid has finished with 5+ SOG in each of those four games, and as long as he continues ripping, I'm just going to have to back him to deliver, especially at plus-money.
Add in that the Oilers just got shut out, and I'm expecting no shortage of aggression from Edmonton tonight.
