Welcome to a brand-new edition of NHL Predictions. Every day, the team here at Last Word on Hockey gives you the scoop on the NHL’s hottest matches and all the details and elements that could change the outcome of the game. Today, we’re looking at the matchup between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes. Be sure to check out our other NHL Predictions as the season presses on.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars at Carolina Hurricanes
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: FanDuel Sports South, Victory+
The Dallas Stars are heading to the Loudest House to faceoff against the Carolina Hurricanes for the first of only two matches this season. The Stars have been rocking out to a high ranking in the Central Division standings all season long and aren’t about to quit now. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have been red hot, circling the top spot in the Metropolitan Division since the early season with no desire to stop.
Heavy as a Hurricane, Louder than a Freight Train
Starting off right, let’s begin with the home team in this set of NHL Predictions. The Carolina Hurricanes have been that team here lately in many discussions. From Martin Nečas lighting it up, to Sebastian Aho breaking long-standing franchise records, to the fiery start to young Jackson Blake’s career, there has been plenty to talk about.
After a three-game road trip, the Canes are finally back home in Raleigh at Lenovo Center. The first game of the trip was a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. It turned out to be one heck of a night as blueliner Jalen Chatfield notched his first goal of the season, soon followed by star centreman Sebastian Aho netting the game-winning goal, claiming the Whalers/Hurricanes record for most in a career with the team. The next night they faced the New Jersey Devils in a match where they had trouble getting their game going, ultimately losing to them 4-2.
On Saturday night, the Carolina Hurricanes wrapped up the trip with a match against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was back-and-forth throughout each frame with the fast-moving Blue Jackets. The first period saw a goal from former Blue Jackets player and Columbus native, Jack Roslovic, who tied the game for Carolina before Kirill Marchenko put the Blue Jackets ahead one before the end of the first frame. The second frame saw a triple threat of Jalen Chatfield, Sebastian Aho, and Jackson Blake all scoring within the period to put Carolina ahead by one. The third period was all defence, but another goal by Kirill Marchenko with only a minute and some change left in the game tied it up. In overtime, the Canes lost star goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to injury. The game went to a shootout, with the win going to the Blue Jackets.
We’ll be Counting Stars
As likely anticipated, the Dallas Stars have been dazzling this season. The biggest stars of the team have been nothing short of impressive. Matt Duchene leads the team by a significant amount in goals, assists, and points. Logan Stankoven is finding his footing, sitting at second in assists across the team, an incredible feat for a rookie.
The Stars have been on a tear since narrowly avoiding a shutout to the Winnipeg Jets on November 9th, only losing one game in the following six. During the game against the Bruins in that set, Tyler Seguin notched his 800th career point, and currently sits third on the team in points.
To kick off their three-game, pre-Thanksgiving road trip, the Dallas Stars played the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the first five minutes, Anthony Cirelli extended his four-game goal streak as he launched a sizzling rebound wrister past Jake Oettinger. However, the Bolts’ lead was soon tied by the Stars when Evgenii Dadonov’s skate bounced the puck in from Ilya Lyubushkin’s shot. And in classic Lightning fashion, they came right back a little over two minutes later, Cirelli wristing another in. That wasn’t the end of the first frame for the Stars, either, with Miro Heiskanen burying another before the end of the period.
The next twenty minutes were rather uneventful for both teams, neither scoring as the game remained tied. In the third period, Matt Duchene wristed in a shot to put Dallas back in the lead. Roope Hintz put a snapper in only 58 seconds later. Oettinger made eight more saves to help the team to a 4-2 win.
NHL Predictions featuring the Dallas Stars at Carolina Hurricanes
The Stars and Canes have been doing well this season and have been pretty widely discussed within their respective conferences. Between players like Matt Duchene, Sebastian Aho, Jason Robertson, and Martin Nečas, neither team is lacking star power. With both teams being top competitors in their divisions, most of their stats are above league average. Offensively speaking, Carolina leads Dallas. However, Dallas’ penalty killers and goaltending are ahead of Carolina.
The Stars are on a roll, looking for their third straight win. Meanwhile, the Canes are aiming to avoid a third-straight loss. As for injuries, Dallas is missing Defenceman Nils Lundkvist, who is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Carolina, on the other hand, has both starting goaltenders out. Frederik Andersen who just underwent knee surgery and Pyotr Kochetkov who sustained an injury in the Canes’ previous game. On the other hand,forward Seth Jarvis was recently activated from Injured Reserve and is a possibility for the upcoming contest. The starting goaltenders for the match are expected to be Jake Oettinger for the Stars and Spencer Martin for the Canes. Backups will likely be Casey DeSmith and the recently recalled Yaniv Perets, respectively.
While Carolina has been heavy on offence this season, defence has lacked a bit. Dallas has essentially been the very opposite. Both of these teams are fairly matched and have often proven to be great matchups in past seasons. Carolina appears to be a step ahead on paper. However, this game falls at a time when the Canes lack depth in the crease due to the aforementioned injuries. It will likely be a hard-fought game for the home team and the visiting team.
Prediction: Stars win 4-3
Your Prop Bets of the Night
The over/under for this game is at 6.5, with under being slightly favoured, per Bet365. For anytime goalscorers on the Carolina Hurricanes, the somewhat safer choice would be Sebastian Aho (+160). He has recently been thawing up for the season after a sluggish start in goals. For a bit more of a return, Jack Roslovic (+260) has been on a three-game goal streak and has already outscored his previous season after just a quarter through this season. As for the Dallas Stars, the man with the plan has been Matt Duchene (+260). Duchene has remained consistent in scoring and currently leads the team in goals, assists, points, and shooting percentage. For the bigger gamble, Logan Stankoven (+300), is well overdue for a goal and could prove to make for an interesting wager.
Main Photo Credit: Jerome Miron – Imagn Images
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