The American Airlines Center is the site for an East-West showdown as the Dallas Stars take the ice against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets. The game gets underway at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 2 and it can be caught live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas (-155) is currently favored over Columbus (+135), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
The Stars are 22-18 straight up (SU) and have lost 0.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a surprising improvement over the 34-48 record from last years regular season campaign. Among its 40 games this season, 23 have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 14-5 SU at home this season.
Dallas has converted on 20.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all penalties.
Dallas, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.4 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over its last five outings. The team has been forced to defend opposition power plays for 10.4 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
Boasting a .914 save percentage and 25.8 saves per game, Ben Bishop (17-14-2) has been the top option in goal for the Stars this year. If they decide to give him a breather, however, the team may turn to Kari Lehtonen (6-7-7 record, .907 save percentage, 2.59 goals against average).
Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin will both lead the offensive attack for the Stars. Benn (37 points) is up to 16 goals and 21 assists and has recorded multiple points eight times this year. Seguin has 19 goals and 16 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 24 games.
On the other side of the ice, Columbus is 22-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 40 regular season contests, 20 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. Columbus 8-11 SU as the visiting team this season.
Columbus has converted on just 11.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Columbus skaters have been penalized only 3.2 times per game this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 13.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (28.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Columbus. Bobrovsky owns an 18-14-3 record, and has registered a .918 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Blue Jackets, the offense will be coordinated by Artemi Panarin, who has 24 assists and 10 goals on the year.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Two of Dallas last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 3-1 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone over in four of Dallas last five games.
- Columbus has attempted 33.7 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 30.3 in its last 10 outings.
- Six of Dallas last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 4-2 overall in those games.
