The American Airlines Center will be the site for a Western Conference tilt as the Dallas Stars welcome the visiting Edmonton Oilers. The matchup gets underway at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 18, and you can witness the game live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas (+105) is currently the underdog to Dallas (-125), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
The Stars are 9-10 straight up (SU) and have recorded -3.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement over the 34-48 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Of the teams 19 games this season, 10 have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 6-2 SU at home thus far.
Dallas enters the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 28.6 percent of their extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Dallas has been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.8 minutes per game over its last five home outings.
Sporting a .899 save percentage and 24.4 saves per game, Ben Bishop (seven wins, eight losses) has been the best goalkeeper for the Stars this season. If the Stars choose to give him a breather, however, head coach Ken Hitchcock might turn to Kari Lehtonen (2-4-4 record, .910 save percentage, 2.48 goals against average).
Jamie Benn and John Klingberg will both be offensive focal points for the Stars. Benn (19 points) has tallied 10 goals and nine assists and has recorded multiple points five times this year. Klingberg has four goals and 14 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 11 contests.
On the other bench, Edmonton is 7-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 19 regular season contests, 11 of its games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and just one has pushed. Edmonton’s 3-5 SU as the visiting team this season.
Edmonton has converted on 20.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 73.4 percent of all penalties.
Edmonton’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.7 per game over their past ten games. The teams been forced to kill penalties a whopping 14.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Cam Talbot (2.92 goals against average and .911 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton. Talbot is averaging 28.2 saves per game and owns a 7-10-1 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Oilers will be Connor McDavid, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season.
Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Betting Trends:
- The over has hit in three of Dallas last five outings.
- The Oilers are 5-7 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Stars are 5-6 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- Dallas is ranked 18th overall with 6.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team has managed 6.0 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Edmonton has created 8.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.9 takeaways per game (ranked eighth in the league).
