Two teams squaring off for the first time this season, the Anaheim Ducks and the Dallas Stars face off at the American Airlines Center for a Western Conference showdown. The action will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 13, and you can see the game live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars Odds
Anaheim is 3-1 straight up (SU) and has netted 2.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That SU win percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far in this young season, is an improvement compared to what the team did last season (44-38). As the road team in 2018-19, the Ducks are 2-0 SU.
The Ducks have found the net on 18.2 percent of their power play chances so far. That mark hasn’t moved a lot from last season, when they were ranked 24th in the league by scoring on 17.3 percent of their extra-man advantages. Their penalty kill has gotten stronger, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 82.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked fifth overall last season) to 91.7 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, the Ducks have been penalized 3.0 times per game this season. Last year, that figure was the third-highest mark in the league at 4.3 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for just 6.0 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 32.0 saves per game with a .955 save percentage, John Gibson (3-1-1) has been the best option in goal for Anaheim this season.
The visiting Ducks have relied on Jakob Silfverberg and Rickard Rakell this year. Silfverberg has five points on one goal and four assists this season while Rakell has one goal and two assists to his credit through the early stages of the regular season.
On the other side of the rink, Dallas is 2-1 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.8 units this season. One of its outings has gone over the total, while another one has gone under and one has pushed. This year, the team’s 2-1 SU at home.
The Stars have scored on 50.0 percent of their extra-man advantages this year after converting on 19.3 percent (ranked 19th in league) last season. They’ve killed off a remarkable 75.0 percent of their penalties, a few points off from the 80.9 percent they recorded a year ago (when they were ranked 13th overall).
Dallas skaters have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.2, the fourth-highest mark in the NHL. After serving an average of 10.1 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 9.0 minutes per outing this season.
Ben Bishop has denied 28.3 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for the Stars. Bishop has two wins and one loss to his credit and has maintained a .924 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average this season.
The Stars will be led on offense by Tyler Seguin (three goals, five assists).
Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
After posting a 4-7 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Anaheim is off to a 1-1 start in shootouts this season. Dallas was 4-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
Anaheim has managed only 17.5 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Dallas has been attempting 31.3 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Anaheim has yet to lose a game by two more more goals this season.
Anaheim skaters recorded 24.2 hits per game last season, while the Stars logged 22.7 hits per contest.
*****
