A couple of teams that are squarely in playoff contention, the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins take the ice at TD Garden for an East-versus-West tilt. Sportsnet will air the game, and the action gets underway at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, January 15.
Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins Odds
With a moneyline of -155, Boston enters the matchup as the heavy favorite. The line for Dallas sits at +135 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Earning 2.9 units for moneyline bettors, the Bruins are 24-17 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, ranked fifth in the NHL so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team managed during last years regular season (44-38). Through 41 regular season contests, 20 of the teams games have gone over the total, while an additional 20 have gone under and just one has pushed. The teams 14-8 SU at home this year.
Boston’s been able to convert on 21.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
Boston, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.4 per game over its past ten matchups. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 8.5 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
With a .919 save percentage and 25.2 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (15-13-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Bruins this year. If they, however, choose to give him the day off, head coach Bruce Cassidy could go with Anton Khudobin (9-6-6 record, .925 save percentage, 2.37 goals against average).
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will each look to continue their strong seasons for the Bruins. Marchand (41 points) has tallied 18 goals and 23 assists and has recorded multiple points 13 times this year. Pastrnak has 17 goals and 22 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 27 contests.
Over on the other bench, Dallas is 24-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 44 regular season matches, 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, Dallas is 8-13 SU so far.
Dallas has converted on 19.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas players have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.5 per game over their last ten games. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Ben Bishop (26.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Dallas. Bishop has 19 wins, 16 losses, and two OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Stars will be Tyler Seguin (21 goals, 19 assists) and John Klingberg (six goals, 34 assists).
Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone over in three of Boston’s last five games.
- The Stars are 11-7 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-9 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- Three of Boston’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this year.
- Boston is ranked 6th this season with 9.5 takeaways per game. That figures trended lower lately, however, as it has averaged 7.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Dallas is ranked 25th overall this season with 6.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as it has averaged 4.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.4 takeaways over its last five.
