Two clubs that split their head-to-head series two games apiece last year, the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild take the ice at the Xcel Energy Center. This Central Division matchup gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 14, and it can be seen live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota comes into the game as the favorite with a -120 moneyline. The line for Dallas now stands at +100, and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 5 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 money on the over and even money (+100) on the under.
Dallas is 36-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 41 of its matches have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just eight have pushed. As an away team this season, the Stars are 15-20 SU.
Dallas has converted on 19.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the fifth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Dallas has been penalized 3.6 times per game overall this season, 3.4 per game over its past five matchups total, and 3.6 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .932 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Ben Bishop (23-17-2) has been the top option in goal for Dallas this year. If head coach Jim Montgomery decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Anton Khudobin (14-18-3), who has a .924 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average this year.
The visiting Stars will be led by Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov. Seguin has 63 points on 27 goals and 36 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 16 different games. Radulov has 21 goals and 34 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 35 games).
Over on the other bench, Minnesota is 33-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 36 of its contests have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just six have pushed. It’s 14-20 SU at home this year.
Minnesota has converted on 19.7 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 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.2 percent of all penalties.
The Wild have been penalized 3.6 times per game this season, and 2.5 per game over their past ten outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 5.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (25.4 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in the crease for Minnesota. Dubnyk has 28 wins, 30 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has registered a 2.60 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this season.
Zach Parise (24 goals, 31 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Wild.
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Dallas’ last five games.
- The Wild are 13-17 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 21-24 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Two of Minnesota’s past 10 outings have been decided by a shootout. The team’s 0-2 in those games and 1-4 overall in shootouts this season.
- Minnesota is ranked 21st overall this season with 7.1 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended down lately, however, as it has created 6.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.0 takeaways over its last five.
- Dallas is ranked 24th in the NHL this season with 6.8 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as it has averaged 7.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 takeaways over its last five.
