The American Airlines Center will play host to a Central Division showdown as the Dallas Stars face off against the visiting St. Louis Blues. Fox Sports Southwest Plus will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29.
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars Odds
With a -135 moneyline, Dallas heads into the matchup as the favorite. The line for St. Louis sits at +115, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-120 to bet the under, +100 for the over).
St. Louis is 23-16 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.5 units this season. 24 of its matches have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and none have pushed. The Blue Notes are 11-8 SU on the road in 2017-18.
St. Louis has converted on just 16.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Blue Notes have been called for penalties just 3.6 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over its past five total, and 3.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .913 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Jake Allen (18-14-2) has been the primary option in goal for St. Louis this season. If St. Louis decides to rest him, however, head coach Mike Yeo could turn to Carter Hutton (6-4), who has a .948 save percentage and 1.67 goals against average this year.
Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Blues. Schenn (40 points) has tallied 17 goals and 23 assists, and has recorded two or more points 10 times. Tarasenko has 15 goals and 21 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 22 games.
Over on the other bench, Dallas is 20-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 38 regular season outings, 21 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 12-5 SU at home this season.
The Stars have converted on just 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas players have been sent to the penalty box 4.4 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their past five games total, and 3.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 8.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Ben Bishop has stopped 25.5 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for the Stars. Bishop has 15 wins, 14 losses, and two OT losses to his name and has recorded a mediocre 2.67 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Tyler Seguin (18 goals, 16 assists).
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Dallas’ last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 3-1 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone over in three of Dallas’ last five games.
St. Louis has managed 27.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Dallas is averaging 34.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Over Dallas’ last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
St. Louis skaters have given out the league’s 10th-most hits per game (22.8), but that number’s down to just 19.4 hits over their last five away games.
