Two teams that’ve positioned themselves squarely in playoff contention, the Dallas Stars and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights collide at the American Airlines Center in a Western Conference showdown. The opening face-off is at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9, and you can catch it live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars Odds
Vegas is 18-10 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 10.5 units this year. 17 of its matches have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Golden Knights team is 7-8 SU on the road.
Vegas has converted on 19.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 78.7 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Vegas has been sent to the penalty box just 3.5 times per game this season, and 4.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .866 save percentage and 22.9 saves per game, Maxime Lagace (6-7-1) has been the top option in goal for Vegas this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant chooses to rest him, however, Vegas might roll with Malcolm Subban (8-2 record, .924 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Golden Knights. Karlsson has 26 points via 15 goals and 11 assists, and has recorded two or more points in eight different games. Marchessault has 10 goals and 15 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 13 games).
On the other bench, Dallas is 16-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.5 units this year. Through 29 regular season outings, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 10-3 SU at home this season.
Dallas has converted on 20.0 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 ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
Dallas skaters have been penalized 4.6 times per game in total this season, and 5.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties 15.6 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Ben Bishop has stopped 24.9 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for Dallas. Bishop has 13 wins and 10 losses and has recorded a poor .910 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this year.
Tyler Seguin (14 goals, 13 assists) will pace the attack for the Stars.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Dallas is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-1 in shootouts.
Over Dallas’ last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
