Coming into the matchup with two wins apiece in the series Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators collide at Bridgestone Arena in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. NBC will showcase this divisional matchup, and the action gets going at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 20.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville heads into the matchup as the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -145. The line for Dallas sits at +125, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 5 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -125 under, +105 over.
Even though their record stands at 49-37 straight up (SU), bettors taking the moneyline have earned a total of 6.2 units on the Predators this season. Among its 86 games this season, 34 have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just five have pushed. This season, the team’s 26-17 SU at home.
Nashville’s offense attempted 32.7 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 2.9 goals per contest (ranked 18th overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team’s managing an average of 34.3 shots on goal (and down to 2.0 goals per game).
After sporting the second-worst power-play unit in the regular season (scoring on 12.8 percent of all opportunities), the Predators have yet to connect on a power-play goal this postseason.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (33-27-5) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Predators this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette chooses to give him the day off, however, the team could roll with Juuse Saros (17-15-15 record, .916 save percentage, 2.58 goals against average).
Ryan Johansen and Roman Josi will each lead the offensive attack for the Predators. Johansen (65 points) has tallied 14 goals and 51 assists and has recorded two or more points 16 times this year. Josi has 17 goals and 41 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 42 games.
Over on the visiting bench, Dallas is 45-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 50 of its matches have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just 11 have pushed. Dallas’ 20-23 SU as the visiting team this season.
Dallas has converted on 21.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas’ players have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Ben Bishop (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Dallas. Bishop has 30 wins, 20 losses, and three OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .935 save percentage and 1.98 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Stars will be Tyler Seguin (34 goals, 49 assists) and Alexander Radulov (31 goals, 44 assists).
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Dallas has managed 29.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville is averaging 36.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Nashville is averaging 2.9 goals per game over its three-game winning streak.
- Over Dallas’ last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).
- Dallas skaters notched 22.7 hits per game last season, while the Predators forced 21.0 hits per matchup.
