Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars Free Preview 10/29/19

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The American Airlines Center will play host to an intriguing matchup as the Minnesota Wild pay a visit to the Dallas Stars. The action will get going at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 29, and you’ll be able to catch this Central Division matchup live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.

Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Odds

Dallas (-155) is being tabbed as the favorite over Minnesota (+135), and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 5 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -130 for the over and +110 for the under.

Losing 6.0 units for moneyline bettors, the Stars are 4-9 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a noticeable slide from what the team recorded during the 2018-19 season (43-39). 10 of its 13 games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 2-4 SU at home thus far.

Dallas has converted on just 8.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places the team in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.4 percent of all penalties.

As a collective unit, Big D has been called for penalties just 3.2 times per game this season, a number that’s pretty close to last year’s 3.5 penalties per game the team gave up. After serving an average of 7.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 6.8 minutes per outing this season.

Averaging 26.9 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Ben Bishop (three wins, six losses, and one OT loss) has been the principal option in goal for the Stars this season. If they decide to give him a rest, however, the team may turn to Anton Khudobin (1-3-3 record, .899 save percentage, 2.80 goals against average).

The Stars will continue to lean on the leadership from Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen. Hintz (seven points) has tallied six goals and one assist and has shown up in the points column six different times this year. Heiskanen has three goals and three assists to his name and has notched a point in six games.

Minnesota has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 4-7 straight up (SU). Through 11 regular season outings, five of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under the total and two have pushed. Minnesota’s 1-6 SU as the visiting team this season.

Minnesota has converted on just 15.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.

Minnesota’s skaters have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, a number that’s fairly close to the 3.5 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 7.9 minutes per outing this year.

Devan Dubnyk (.880 save percentage and 3.92 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk is averaging 24.1 saves per game and owns a 2-5 record.

Leading the offensive firepower for the visiting Wild will be Eric Staal (three goals, three assists) and Brad Hunt (four goals, two assists).

Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Betting Predictions

Prediction: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over

Betting Notes

  • The total has gone under in four of Dallas’ last five games.
  • The Stars are 1-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 2-7 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
  • After losing two of its three shootouts last year, Dallas is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Minnesota went 1-4 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.