Two clubs that split their season series (one game a piece) last year, the Dallas Stars and the Philadelphia Flyers face off at the Wells Fargo Center in an East-West matchup. Fox Sports Southwest Plus will showcase the matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 16.
Dallas Stars at Philadelphia Flyers Odds
With a moneyline of -120, Philadelphia heads into the game as the favorite. The line for Dallas sits at +100, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Dallas is 18-15 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.7 units this year. 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Stars are 8-11 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Dallas has converted on 19.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 16th out of 31 teams, and it’s successfully killed off 81.2 percent of its penalties.
Dallas, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.4 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 3.6 per game over its last five outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays 9.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 25.3 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Ben Bishop (13-11) has been the best option in goal for Dallas this year. If head coach Ken Hitchcock chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Kari Lehtonen (6-7-1), who has a .907 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this year.
Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Stars. Seguin has 29 points via 14 goals and 15 assists, and has recorded multiple points seven times. Benn has 13 goals and 16 assists to his name, and has logged a point in 19 games.
On the other bench, Philadelphia is 13-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 31 regular season contests, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 6-10 SU at home this season.
Philadelphia has converted on 18.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
Philadelphia players have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 1.6 per game over their past five games. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott (27.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott has 11 wins, 13 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has registered a .913 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this year.
Jakub Voracek (seven goals, 31 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Flyers.
Dallas Stars at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Philadelphia is 0-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Dallas is 2-1 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Philadelphia’s last five games.
Philadelphia has allowed 2.9 goals per game overall this year, but is allowing just 1.6 per contest over its five-game win streak.
Over Philadelphia’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
