Do we get the Stanley Cup Final matchup set tonight? Here's my take – the Cup isn't easy.  Vegas will have to work harder, and Dallas won't go easily. Then the Florida Panthers will have to survive a series-opening loss, too. They don't just GIVE you the hardest trophy in sports, you have to earn it. 

Gold Selection:  Ryan Suter blocks 2+ shots (-130)

I'll play Ryan Suter to block shots over the other Stars defensemen. Experience, desperation, desire to stay in the hunt. Suter has chipped in two assists this round of the playoffs, and thus far 27 blocks in the 16 games. At age 38, he's seen pretty much everything on the ice except a Stanley Cup Final.  

Silver Selection:  Jack Eichel scores a power-play point (+170)

If you're betting this game, you've got to find at least one "plus" wager worth your 10 bucks. All the minus-150's get you aren't going to really buy more than a fast-food dinner, right?  Eichel, for anyone who's bought into the criticisms of his play, has led the Knights in playoff scoring, and his place on the first power-play is that it's fully built on his playmaking ability to feed Jonathan Marchessault in the circle, or Mark Stone for a tip. And Vegas WILL score. Keep reading.

Bronze Selection:  The Over, above 5.5 goals (-110)

This bet hasn't paid as often as I thought it would, through each of the division finals.  Who knew Florida could play defense, or that Sergei Bobrovsky would be Superman?  In the West, we have seen Jake Oettinger struggle, and Adin Hill clearly has the weakest pedigree of the "final four" netminders.  He's what – Vegas' fifth-string goalie? Robin Lehner, Logan Thompson, Laurent Brossoit, Jonathan Quick* ?   Yeah, asterisk that last guy – Stanley Cup Champion, and just one of five on the Golden Knights' roster (Alex Pietrangelo, Alec Martinez, Chandler Stephenson, Phil Kessel).  So I'll anticipate a 6-4, entertaining nailbiter, where Side Bet: Dallas pushes the series out to Game 6 on Monday! (+125)