In a game featuring a couple of the league’s strongest penalty-kill units, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Dallas Stars clash at the American Airlines Center for a divisional showdown. The match will get underway at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2, and you will be able to see it live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas enters the contest as the favorite with a moneyline of -120. The line for Chicago sits at +100, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
Dallas is 14-11 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.1 units this year. That early-season winning percentage is a remarkable improvement over the 34-48 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Of the team’s 25 games this season, 13 have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 9-2 SU at home this year.
The Stars have connected on 22.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.7 percent of all penalties.
The Stars, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.6 times per game overall this season, and 5.2 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opposition power plays for 13.2 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Averaging 25.2 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, Ben Bishop (12-9) has been the top option in goal for Dallas this year. If the Stars decide to give him the night off, however, Dallas may turn to Kari Lehtonen (3-4-4 record, .897 save percentage, 2.89 goals against average).
Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov will both lead the offensive attack for the Stars. Seguin (24 points) has produced 12 goals and 12 assists and has recorded two or more points six times this year. Radulov has eight goals and 14 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 16 games.
Chicago is 12-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 25 regular season matches, 12 of its games have gone over the total, while another 12 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Blackhawks are 6-7 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 17.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked sixth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.5 percent of all penalties.
Chicago’s players have been penalized 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their past ten contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford (29.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Chicago. Crawford has 11 wins, 10 losses, and two OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .930 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average this year.
Patrick Kane (10 goals, 17 assists) has been one of the top facilitators on offense for the visiting Blackhawks.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Dallas Stars Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Eight of Dallas’ last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 5-3 overall in those games.
Power-play chances may have a critical role in tonight’s matchup. The Blackhawks are 8-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 7-6 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Stars are 6-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 8-5 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Dallas may hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 5-3 in games decided by one goal, while Chicago is 3-6 in such games.
The under has hit in three of Dallas’ last five games.
Dallas has scored 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but has raised that figure up to 4.3 per matchup over its three-game winning streak.
Dallas has averaged 10.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 7.5 giveaways per game (ranked 6th in the NHL).
Chicago has averaged 8.8 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 9.3 giveaways per game (ranked 13th).
