Facing each other for the final time this season, the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens meet at Bell Centre for an East-versus-West matchup. Reseau Des Sports will showcase the matchup, which gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 13.
Dallas Stars at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Dallas (+135) is playing the role of underdog to Dallas (-155) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 for the over, +100 for the under).
Dallas is 38-31 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 69 regular season contests, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the away team this season, the Stars are 14-18 SU.
Dallas has converted on 19.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Dallas, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.3 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 4.6 per game over its last five total, and 3.8 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Boasting a .917 save percentage and 25.3 saves per game, Ben Bishop (26-25-5) has been the primary option in goal for Dallas this year. If Dallas decides to rest him, however, head coach Ken Hitchcock might turn to Kari Lehtonen (13-13-2 record, .921 save percentage, 2.23 goals against average).
The visiting Stars will be led by Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov. Seguin (65 points) is up to 36 goals and 29 assists, and has recorded two or more points 17 times. Radulov has 25 goals and 35 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 41 games).
Montreal is 25-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 21.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 38 of its matches have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 16-18 SU at home this year.
Montreal has converted on 19.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays 9.4 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Carey Price has stopped 27.3 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Montreal. Price has 15 wins, 28 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has registered a fairly-weak .904 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average this season.
Brendan Gallagher (25 goals, 17 assists) will pace the attack for the Habs.
Dallas Stars vs. Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Three of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-3 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this year.
The under has hit in three of Montreal’s last five games.
Dallas has managed 28.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Montreal is averaging 35.2 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Montreal has allowed 3.2 goals per game this season, but has given up 4.2 goals per matchup over its five-game losing streak.
Over Dallas’ last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Dallas skaters have dished out the 11th-most hits in the league (22.3 per game) while the Canadiens have recorded the fourth-most (25.4).
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