Two teams that each spend double-digit minutes per game in the penalty box, the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators face off at Bridgestone Arena for a divisional showdown. This one gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 6 and it’ll be showcased live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators Odds
Dallas (+150) is playing the role of underdog to Nashville (-170) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
The Predators are 42-23 straight up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 13.1 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked second in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 41-41 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Of the team’s 65 games this season, 33 have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 22-10 SU at home this season.
Nashville’s been able to convert on 22.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Nashville has been whistled for penalties 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.8 per game over its past ten matchups. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.0 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
Sporting a .927 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (35 wins, 13 losses, and four OT losses) has been the top goalkeeper for the Predators this season. If they choose to rest him, however, the team might turn to Juuse Saros (7-11-11 record, .924 save percentage, 2.42 goals against average).
P.K. Subban and Viktor Arvidsson will both spearhead the attack for the Predators. Subban (50 points) has tallied 15 goals and 35 assists and has recorded multiple points in 12 different games this year. Arvidsson has 24 goals and 25 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 34 contests.
Over on the other bench, Dallas is 37-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 66 regular season contests, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the away team, Dallas is 14-16 SU.
Dallas has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play chances this season, 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 82.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas’ players have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Ben Bishop (.917 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Dallas. Bishop is averaging 25.3 saves per game and owns a 26-25-5 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Stars will be Tyler Seguin (36 goals, 26 assists) and Alexander Radulov (24 goals, 35 assists).
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
- Dallas has managed 30.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville is averaging 38.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Extra-man opportunities may play a key role in the outcome of this one. The Stars are 14-13 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 21-16 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Predators are 16-5 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 21-12 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Nashville is 5-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Dallas is 4-2 in shootouts.
- Nashville has forced 9.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 7.9 takeaways per game (ranked 10th overall).
- Dallas has forced 4.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.8 takeaways per game (ranked 27th overall).
