Dallas Stars vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game Preview 2/14/19

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Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov, and the Dallas Stars will do battle against Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in an East-West showdown. The opening face-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 14, and you’ll be able to see the game live on Fox Sports Southwest.

Dallas Stars vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds

The Lightning (-190) are tabbed as the solid favorites over the Stars (+165) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-125 for the over, +105 for the under).

Tampa Bay is 42-15 straight-up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 17.3 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 54-28 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 57 regular season outings, 30 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 22-7 SU at home this year.

The Lightning enter the matchup with the best power-play unit in the NHL, as they have scored on 29.7 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fourth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all penalties.

With a .925 save percentage and 30.4 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (23 wins, 11 losses, and four OT losses) has been the most dependable option in goal for the Bolts this season. If head coach Jon Cooper decides to rest him, however, Tampa Bay could turn to Louis Domingue (18-4-4 record, .907 save percentage, 2.90 goals against average).

On the other hand, Dallas is 29-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 34 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just six have pushed. As the away team, the Stars are 11-17 SU so far.

The Stars have converted on 20.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all opponent power plays.

Ben Bishop (2.30 goals against average and .924 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Dallas. Bishop is averaging 27.1 saves per game and has 19 wins, 15 losses, and two OT losses to his credit.

Dallas Stars at Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks

Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under

Betting Notes

  • The Lightning (4-1 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. The Stars has yet to participate in one this year.
  • For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
  • Over Dallas’ last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-1 in those games).
  • The Lightning this season have registered the eighth-most hits per game in the NHL (25.4).