The American Airlines Center will play host to a divisional matchup as the Minnesota Wild take on the Dallas Stars. Fox Sports Southwest Plus will air the matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 3.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas is 29-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a surprising turnaround from how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (34-48). Of the team’s 52 games this season, 28 have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 17-9 SU at home this year.
The Stars have converted on 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Stars have been penalized 4.4 times per game overall this season, and 6.2 per game over their past five games. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for a whopping 19.6 minutes per game over their last five matchups, in total.
With a .917 save percentage and 26.4 saves per game, Ben Bishop (21-19-3) has been the primary option in goal for the Stars this season. If Dallas chooses to give him the night off, however, the team might turn to Kari Lehtonen (9-7-7 record, .915 save percentage, 2.31 goals against average).
John Klingberg and Alexander Radulov will both be focal points for the Stars. Klingberg (49 points) has tallied six goals and 43 assists and has recorded multiple points 13 times this year. Radulov has 20 goals and 28 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 32 contests.
Minnesota is 28-23 straight up (SU) and has netted 2.2e-16 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 51 regular season outings, 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Wild are 10-15 SU as an away team this season.
The Wild have scored on 21.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.2 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota’s skaters have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five contests. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (27.6 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk owns a 21-13-3 record, and has registered a .917 save percentage and 2.63 goals against average this year.
Eric Staal (22 goals, 24 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the visiting Wild.
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Minnesota is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Dallas is 3-2 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Dallas’ last five outings.
Over Minnesota’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
