Matching up for the fourth and final time this year, the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars face off at the American Airlines Center in a divisional tilt. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 31, and you’ll be able to watch the game live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Odds
Minnesota (-115) is currently the favorite over Dallas (-105) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
Minnesota is 43-34 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 77 regular season outings, 39 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just four have pushed. The Wild are 17-20 SU as the road team in 2017-18.
Minnesota has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Wild have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .917 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (34-22-7) has been the best option in goal for Minnesota this year. If Minnesota chooses to rest him, however, they might turn to Alex Stalock (10-17-3), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average this year.
The visiting Wild have relied heavily on Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund this season. Staal (74 points) is up to 40 goals and 34 assists, and has recorded multiple points 17 times. Granlund has 20 goals and 43 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 39 games).
Dallas is 39-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 78 regular season matches, 39 of its games have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 25-15 SU as the home team.
The Stars have converted on just 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.2 percent of all penalties.
Stars players have been penalized 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Ben Bishop (24.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Stars. Bishop has 26 wins, 27 losses, and six OT losses and has maintained a 2.49 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this season.
Tyler Seguin (39 goals, 35 assists) will lead the offensive attack for Big D.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Minnesota is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Dallas is 4-3 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Dallas’ last five games.
Over Minnesota’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
The Stars this season have registered the 11th-most hits per game (22.9).
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