The SAP Center plays host to a Western Conference showdown as the San Jose Sharks square off against the visiting Dallas Stars. Fox Sports Southwest will showcase the matchup, and the puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 18.
Dallas Stars at San Jose Sharks Odds
The money line for each team is currently set at an identical -110 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Dallas is 34-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.1 units this season. 31 of its outings have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Stars team is 13-14 SU on the road.
Dallas has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it has successfully killed off 82.3 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Dallas has been penalized 4.3 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over its last five games total, and 4.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties an unhealthy 13.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .919 save percentage and 26.5 saves per game, Ben Bishop (24-20-3) has been the top option in goal for Dallas this year. If head coach Ken Hitchcock chooses to rest him, however, the team could turn to Kari Lehtonen (11-8-1 record, .918 save percentage, 2.30 goals against average).
Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Stars. Benn has 53 points on 21 goals and 32 assists, and has recorded multiple points 13 times. Radulov has 21 goals and 32 assists to his creditand has logged a point in 36 games.
On the other side of the ice, San Jose is 31-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 58 regular season outings, 36 of its games have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 16-12 SU as the home team.
San Jose has converted on 23.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
San Jose skaters have been sent to the penalty box only 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last ten contests. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (25.9 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for San Jose. Jones has 18 wins, 21 losses, and six OT losses and has maintained a .915 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average this season.
Brent Burns (10 goals, 40 assists) will pace the attack for San Jose.
Dallas Stars vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in three of San Jose’s last five games.
- The Stars are 14-10 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 20-12 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Two of San Jose’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 4-3 overall in shootouts this year.
- One of the best at pressuring opposing teams, San Jose is ranked 4th overall this season with 9.2 takeaways per game. That figures trended lower, however, as the team has managed 8.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.2 takeaways over its last five.
- Dallas has averaged 4.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.9 takeaways per game (ranked 27th in the NHL).
