Two teams that’ve positioned themselves squarely in playoff contention, the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars face off at the American Airlines Center for a divisional showdown. The match gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 23, and you can witness it live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas enters the matchup as the favorite with a -120 moneyline. The line for Nashville sits at +100, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-130 for the over, +110 for the under).
Nashville is 21-13 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 18 of its matches have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team this season, the Preds are 10-7 SU.
Nashville currently has the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 25.8 percent of its extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, it has the ninth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 82.9 percent of its penalties.
The Preds, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 5.6 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 6.2 per game over its last five games. The team has had to kill penalties a whopping 15.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .923 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (18-9-3) has been the best option in goal for Nashville this season. If Nashville chooses to rest him, however, head coach Peter Laviolette might go with Juuse Saros (3-5-1), who has a .920 save percentage and 2.62 goals against average this year.
Filip Forsberg and Kevin Fiala will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Predators. Forsberg (33 points) has tallied 15 goals and 18 assists, and has recorded two or more points in eight different games. Fiala has 10 goals and 16 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 18 games).
Dallas is 19-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 36 regular season matches, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 11-5 SU as the home team.
The Stars have converted on just 19.4 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Stars players have been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays 9.2 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Ben Bishop (25.3 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Stars. Bishop has 14 wins, 13 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has registered a .911 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average this year.
Tyler Seguin (16 goals, 15 assists) and Jamie Benn (15 goals, 16 assists) will lead the attack for the Stars.
Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Eight of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-3 in those games.
Penalties and power plays could prove to be critical tonight. The Predators are 7-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 9-3 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Stars are 10-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 13-6 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Two of Nashville’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this season.
The over has hit in three of Dallas’ last five outings.
Dallas skaters have averaged 10.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 7.6 giveaways per game (the 7th-fewest in the NHL).
Nashville has averaged 7.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 16th in the league).
