Two clubs that are squaring off for the third and final time this year, the Vancouver Canucks and the Dallas Stars take the ice at the American Airlines Center for a Western Conference matchup. The match will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 25, and it can be viewed live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas (-275) is currently favored over Vancouver (+240), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Dallas is 38-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (34-48). Through 75 regular season outings, 38 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 35 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 24-14 SU at home this year.
The Stars have converted on 20.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Stars have been penalized 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 7.8 minutes per game over their last five matchups, in total.
Averaging 24.8 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Ben Bishop (26-27-6) has been the top option in goal for the Stars this season. If the Stars decide to give him the night off, however, head coach Ken Hitchcock might turn to Kari Lehtonen (13-18-18 record, .912 save percentage, 2.54 goals against average).
The Stars will continue to look for offensive production from Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Seguin (71 points) is up to 39 goals and 32 assists and has recorded two or more points 18 times this year. Benn has 28 goals and 41 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 46 games.
Vancouver is 26-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 42 of its matches have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and none have pushed. The Canucks are 14-25 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Canucks have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully defended 78.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, 4.4 per game over their last five contests total, and 4.4 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 13.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Jacob Markstrom (.910 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 26.4 saves per game and owns a 19-36-7 record.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Canucks will be Brock Boeser (29 goals, 26 assists) and Daniel Sedin (21 goals, 29 assists).
Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Vancouver is 0-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Dallas is 4-3 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Dallas’ last five outings.
Vancouver has managed 28.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Dallas is averaging 36.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
Dallas has allowed 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but has given up 3.9 goals per contest on its seven-game losing skid.
Seven of Vancouver’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-6 in those games.
The Stars this season have registered the ninth-most hits per game (23.0), but the club has averaged 27.0 over their last five home games.
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