Two clubs that split their head-to-head series 2-2 a year ago, the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars take the ice at the American Airlines Center for a divisional showdown. The match will get going at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, October 19, and fans at home are able to witness the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Odds
Minnesota (+135) is playing the role of underdog to Dallas (-155), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Dallas is 3-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2017-18 season (42-40). Out of the team’s six regular season matches, three of them have gone under the total, while two have gone over and one has pushed. This season, the team is 3-1 SU at home.
The Stars have successfully scored on 38.9 percent of their power play chances so far. That’s a big improvement from last year, when they were ranked 19th in the league by scoring on 19.3 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 80.9 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 13th overall last season) to 77.8 percent this year.
As a collective unit, the Stars have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season. Last year, they posted the fourth-worst mark in the league with 4.2 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.1 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for 9.0 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Ben Bishop (2-2) has been the best goalkeeper for Dallas this season. If Dallas decides to give him a rest, however, the team might roll with Anton Khudobin (1-1-1 record, .898 save percentage, 3.02 goals against average).
Alexander Radulov and Tyler Seguin will both be offensive focal points for the Stars. Radulov (10 points) has put up four goals and six assists while Seguin has three goals and seven assists to his name so far in the season’s early stages.
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 2-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through six regular season contests, three of its games have gone under the total, while two have gone over and one has pushed. The Wild are 0-2 SU as the away team this season.
The Wild have scored on 16.7 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 20.6 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a figure that was right at league average). The team’s gone from killing off 80.9 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 12th overall last season) to 80.8 percent in 2018-19.
Minnesota’s players have been penalized 5.5 times per game this season, a number that has risen noticeably from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for a noteworthy 12.0 minutes per outing this year.
Devan Dubnyk (2.32 goals against average and .940 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk is averaging 37.4 saves per game and owns a 2-3-2 record.
For the visiting Wild, the offense will be facilitated by Zach Parise (one goal, six assists) and Ryan Suter (one goal, four assists).
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
After posting a 3-3 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Minnesota is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Dallas went 4-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
Minnesota has managed 26.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Dallas is averaging 36.3 shots per game over its last five at home.
Minnesota has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
Minnesota skaters recorded 16.9 hits per game last season, while the Stars logged 22.7 hits per matchup.
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