A couple of teams that have put themselves firmly in playoff contention, the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars collide at the American Airlines Center in a divisional matchup. The action gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 23, and you are able to catch it live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas (-120) is currently favored over Nashville (+100) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -130 money on the over and +110 on the under.
Nashville is 21-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.7 units this season. 18 of its matches have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 10-7 SU on the road.
Nashville currently has the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 25.8 percent of its extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
The Preds, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 5.6 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 6.2 per game over its last five games. The teams had to kill penalties a whopping 15.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .923 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (18-9-3) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team could turn to 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 lead the way for the visiting Predators. Forsberg has 33 points via 15 goals and 18 assists, and has recorded multiple points eight times. Fiala has 10 goals and 16 assists to his creditand has notched 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 outings, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the teams 11-5 SU at home.
The Stars have converted on just 19.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark 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.
Dallas skaters have been penalized 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The teams 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 top netminder in goal for the Stars. Bishop has 14 wins, 13 losses, and two overtime losses and has registered a mediocre 2.65 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Tyler Seguin (16 goals, 15 assists) and Jamie Benn (15 goals, 16 assists).
Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Nashville’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone over in three of Dallas last five outings.
- Over Nashville’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
