The American Airlines Center will play host to an East-West showdown as the Boston Bruins travel to Dallas to face the Stars. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The matchup gets started at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 23, and fans at home can see the game live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars Odds
Boston is 45-27 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.7 units this year. 38 of its contests have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team in 2017-18, the Bruins are 20-15 SU.
Boston has converted on 22.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.3 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Bruins have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over its past five total, and 3.8 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 10.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 25.1 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (30-17-5) has been the top option in goal for Boston this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy might turn to Anton Khudobin (15-13-5), who has a .917 save percentage and 2.48 goals against average this year.
The visiting Bruins have relied on Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak heavily this year. Marchand (75 points) is up to 31 goals and 44 assists, and has recorded multiple points 23 times. Pastrnak has 28 goals and 42 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 47 games).
Dallas is 38-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 38 of its outings have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 24-13 SU at home this year.
The Stars have converted on just 20.5 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 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Stars skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their past five contests total, and 4.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties 11.0 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Ben Bishop (24.8 saves per game) has been the top option 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.
The Stars offense will be led by Tyler Seguin (39 goals, 31 assists).
Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Dallas is 4-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 3-2 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of Dallas’ last five games.
Dallas has allowed 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but is giving up 4.0 goals per matchup over its six-game losing streak.
Four of Dallas’ last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 0-4 overall in those games.
This game features two of the more physical defenses in the league. Boston skaters have given out the sixth-most hits in the league (23.9 per game) while the Stars have tallied the 10th-most (22.9).
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