Golden Knights vs. Panthers picks, odds: Florida looks to tie Stanley Cup Final with win in Game 4

For the first time in their history, the Florida Panthers have a win in the Stanley Cup Final. Of course, considering how their postseason has gone, it would come by an overtime victory. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are still two wins away from their first Cup, and one win on the road could firmly put them in the driver’s seat. If the Panthers win, the good times will continue to roll in Florida with them in the final, the Miami Heat still battling for an NBA championship and arguably the greatest soccer player who ever lived is coming to Inter Miami. We don’t say it often, but what a time to be alive in Florida.

Let’s get to the picks.

During the Stanley Cup playoffs, The Athletic’s writers will make their straight-up picks. You’ll find picks, coverage and the latest odds here. Our in-depth NHL coverage is linked below the picks.

All odds from BetMGM and update live. Looking for tickets for tonight’s game? Find deals on StubHub.

Game 4 – Golden Knights at Panthers

Vegas leads 2-1

8 p.m. on TNT, SN, CBC

Carter Verhaeghe has four game-winning goals this postseason, including Thursday night’s overtime heroics. He’s tied with his teammate Matthew Tkachuk, and both players are three goals back from Brad Richards’ all-time record of seven from the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs. You may remember that Verhaeghe scored the overtime goal that eliminated the Boston Bruins (Ian Mendes and I told you they weren’t making the final, just saying). Verhaeghe has quietly emerged as a dark horse for the Conn Smythe, trailing his teammates Matthew Tkachuk and Sergei Bobrovsky. If the Panthers tie the series, Verhaeghe will be one to watch out for. While we’re here, it is great to see Brandon Montour return to the scoresheet. The defenceman was off to a sweet start in the postseason with four goals in his first seven games. But a 10-game pointless skid soon followed. The Panthers would greatly appreciate his offensive attributes again in this series.

OK, so the Golden Knights suffered a setback. They couldn’t hang on to a lead in the dying moments of Game 3, and they are now guaranteed a Game 5 in this series at home. They aren’t favoured to win Game 4 on the road, but they still have a 6-3 road record in the playoffs to hang their hat on. Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel are still producing well as a tandem (19 goals, 46 points combined this postseason), and they still have Adin Hill, who remains solid. And let’s be honest here. If the Golden Knights took a 3-0 series lead, we’d be pretty disappointed that the Stanley Cup Final is all but over. Vegas still has the pieces to take a 3-1 series lead and put the Panthers in a familiar yet tough hole.