PPG Paints Arena will be hosting an East-West matchup as the Dallas Stars travel to Western PA to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the action, which gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 11.
Dallas Stars vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Dallas (+140) is playing the role of underdog to Pittsburgh (-160) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Pittsburgh is 39-30 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.3 units this season. That winning percentage, the best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 69 regular season outings, 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 25-9 SU at home this season.
The Penguins come into the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve converted on 26.0 percent of their extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Penguins have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five contests home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Matt Murray (25-16-2) has been the best goalkeeper for the Pens this season. If the Pens, however, decide to give him the night off, the team might roll with Tristan Jarry (14-11-11 record, .910 save percentage, 2.76 goals against average).
Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel will both lead the way for the Penguins. Malkin (85 points) is up to 38 goals and 47 assists and has recorded two or more points in 22 different games this year. Kessel has 28 goals and 49 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 48 games.
On the other side of the ice, Dallas is 38-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 34 of its matches have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Stars are 14-17 SU as the road team this season.
The Stars have converted on 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.4 percent of all penalties.
Dallas’ players have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Ben Bishop (25.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Dallas. Bishop owns a 26-25-5 record, and has registered a .917 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average this year.
Tyler Seguin (36 goals, 28 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Stars.
Dallas Stars at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Dallas is 4-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-2 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
Dallas has managed 30.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Pittsburgh has been attempting 39.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
Over Dallas’ last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
The Pens this season have tallied the sixth-most hits per game (24.0).
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