A couple of teams that are squarely in playoff contention, the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars clash at the American Airlines Center in a divisional showdown. The match gets underway at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 5 and it’ll be showcased live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars Odds
Nashville is 17-10 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.0 units this season. 13 of its games have gone over the total, while another 13 have gone under and none have pushed. The Preds are 6-7 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Nashville has converted on 26.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and the teams successfully killed off 82.9 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Preds have been penalized 5.5 times per game this season, and 4.0 per game over its last five contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 30.2 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (16-6-2) has been the top option in goal for Nashville this year. Rinne played last night, however, so Nashville may decide to rest him and instead turn to Juuse Saros (1-4-1 record, .870 save percentage, 3.71 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Kyle Turris will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Predators. Forsberg has 28 points via 14 goals and 14 assists, and has recorded two or more points in seven different games. Turris has five goals and 14 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 11 games).
On the other side of the rink, Dallas is 16-11 straight up (SU) and has netted 3.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 27 regular season contests, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 10-2 SU as the home team.
The Stars have converted on just 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas skaters have been called for penalties 4.5 times per game in total this season, and 5.4 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Ben Bishop (25.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Stars. Bishop has 13 wins and nine losses to his name and has maintained a 2.59 goals against average and a .912 save percentage this year.
Tyler Seguin (14 goals, 13 assists) will pace the attack for the home team.
Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Three of Nashville’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- The over has hit in three of Dallas last five games.
- Dallas has averaged 3.1 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 4.6 per contest across its five-game winning streak.
- Over Nashville’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
