Stars vs Predators NHL Spread/Handicapping
Struggling Predators Host Surging Stars Monday
Two Western Conference contenders do battle in Nashville of Monday night when the Dallas Stars come to town looking good after a sluggish start.
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Both teams began the season searching for some offensive output – one team has found the scoring touch while the other has yet to find and sort of consistency in the offensive zone. Nashville has failed to score a goal in their last two games while the Stars have scored at least three in their last nine games overall.
Dallas Stars (9-8-1-0) at Nashville Predators (8-6-1-4)
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, February 25, 2013
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Broadcast: NBCSN
Stars vs. Preds Betting Lines from JustBet.cx
Nashville -160 / Stars +140 / OU 5
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The Dallas Stars have gone from one of the bottom dwellers in the West to a playoff contender in a few short weeks on the heels of a 7-3-1 record in the month of February. You can thank the offense for the turnaround. In their first nine games the Stars totaled 16 measly goals – in their last nine they have gone off for 30. Jamie Benn’s presence in the lineup has made all the difference.
Benn missed the first five games of the season because he was without a contract and only had one point in his first four contests, but he’s been rolling since – he has six goals and 12 points in the nine contests since. Dallas will still be missing offensive threat Ray Whitney but clearly Dallas is a much different team with him in the lineup.
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The Stars have been OK defensively this year but nothing special. They have allowed 2.67 goals per game this year and may be without Kari Lehtonen again Monday. Lehtonen was 5-0-0 with a 1.69 GAA before he went down with a groin injury – something that has kept him out of action the last three games. That leaves Cristopher Nilstrop to backstop the Stars. He was sharp Saturday, stopping 31 of 32 shots after yielding four goals in each of his previous two games.
Ugh! What is going on with the Nashville Predators? If not for Pekka Rinne this team would be near the bottom of the NHL, not sitting in the top 8 in the Western Conference. The Preds are averaging a league-worst 2.0 goals and it’s found the back of the net only 11 times in its last five contests (1-3-1) and have been shut out two straight times ahead of their Monday matchup. It appears that nobody can be counted on for a spark in the offensive zone for Nashville at the moment – the game will be in the hands as usual of … [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Pekka Rinne who will be looking to rebound from his worst outing of the season when he allowed four goals in a loss on Saturday. Rinne has a sparkling 1.77 goals-against average and .931 save % this season and already has three shutouts. But due to a lack of support he is just two games over .500 however.
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Under is 8-1-2 in DAL last 11 vs. Central.
• DAL are 3-9 in their last 12 games following a win.
• Under is 11-2-3 in NAS last 16 home games.
• Under is 13-3-1 in NAS last 17 vs. Pacific.
• Under is 13-4-1 in NAS last 18 Mon. games.
• Home team is 32-15-1 in the last 48 meetings.
Monday’s showdown features one of the hotter offensive teams in the NHL versus one of the most dreadful goal scoring teams I can remember. All the Stars have to do is get two past Rinne and the rest will take care of itself. I have little faith in the Predators right now even on home ice and with the best keeper on the planet. Dallas has won four of five away from home and should get it done Monday!
Pick: Dallas Stars
