Two teams facing each other for the first time this season, the San Jose Sharks and the Dallas Stars collide at the American Airlines Center. Fox Sports Southwest will showcase this Western Conference matchup, and the action gets underway at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 8.
San Jose Sharks at Dallas Stars Odds
San Jose (+100) is playing the role of underdog to San Jose (-120) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
The Stars are 8-7 straight up (SU) and have lost 0.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage is right in line with what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (42-40). Of the team’s 15 regular season matches, eight have gone under the total, while five have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 5-2 SU at home thus far.
Dallas has converted on 24.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
Dallas, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game this season. Last year, the club posted the fourth-worst mark in the league with 4.2 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.1 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to kill penalties for 8.3 minutes per matchup this year.
With a .921 save percentage and 27.6 saves per game, Ben Bishop (6-5) has been the primary option in goal for the Stars this year. If the Stars choose to give him the evening off, however, head coach Jim Montgomery may turn to Anton Khudobin (2-2-2 record, .929 save percentage, 2.22 goals against average).
Tyler Seguin and John Klingberg will each be focal points for the Stars. Seguin (14 points) has put up three goals and 11 assists and has recorded two or more points four times this year. Klingberg has five goals and eight assists to his name and has notched at least one point in nine contests.
On the other hand, San Jose is 8-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 15 regular season outings, nine of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under the total and none have pushed. As an away team so far, San Jose is 4-4 SU.
San Jose has converted on 21.3 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 fourth overall and it’s successfully defended 86.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
San Jose’s players have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, a number that is up some from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.3 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 9.5 minutes per outing this season.
Martin Jones (2.72 goals against average and .899 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose. Jones is averaging 24.3 saves per game and owns a 7-4-1 record.
For the visiting Sharks, the offense will run through Brent Burns (three goals, 15 assists) and Logan Couture (six goals, 10 assists).
