Odds for the Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup are now listed at 9 to 2, which is third-bestGetty Images
The Golden Knights' Stanley Cup Playoffs run has Las Vegas sportsbookers "confronting serious liability," as the expansion team is now the third favorite to win the title at some Vegas books, according to Lance Pugmire of the L.A. TIMES. The team opened the season as the NHL's "greatest preseason longshot at 300 to 1," but the Westgate Superbook "increased the odds to 500 to 1 as means to encourage action that was lacking." MGM Resorts VP/Race & Sports Operations Jay Rood said that his company also made the team's odds 500 to 1. Westgate Superbook Race & Sports Dir Jay Kornegay said, "I just looked at this today -- and it's the first time I did -- and we have 13 bets on the Knights at 500 to 1. Small dollars, we call them 'grocery dollars'; the biggest was $20." If the Golden Knights win, that "'grocery' money has the potential to transform to $10,000." The Golden Knights' odds to win the Cup "are now listed at 9 to 2," and the team "stands as the third favorite," behind the Lightning and Predators, who are at 4 to 1. The business of hockey betting has "boomed like never before at the sports books along the Strip, with estimates that the books have seen a 35% increase in hockey wagers this season thanks to the excitement over the Golden Knights increasing local knowledge of the game" (L.A. TIMES, 4/23). ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski writes under the header, "Vegas Fans Ready To Cash In 'Miracle' Cup Wagers" (4/23).
TALKIN' 'BOUT PRACTICE: In Las Vegas, Ron Kantowski writes 700 spectators "packed the bleachers" for the Golden Knights' practices after the team's first-round sweep of the Kings. The City National Arena has "become a place to rendezvous for Knights fans." It is a "chance to see the players up close." Golden Knights D Nate Schmidt said, "It's pretty incredible what we get every day at practice" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/23). Meanwhile, Nevada DMV Public Information Officer Kevin Malone said that a specialty license plate for the Golden Knights "has been designed and is ready to be produced." However, he added that the design "won't be released until the state receives final approval from the team" (LASVEGASSUN.com, 4/22).
