Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars Odds, Pick, Prediction 12/20/21
Covid restrictions have all but two NHL games canceled on Monday, but there is still a great contest at the American Airlines Center in Dallas when the Minnesota Wild take on the Dallas Stars. This Central Division showdown features the top team in the division taking on the No. 6 seed.
These teams are meeting for just the second time this season, as the Wild defeated the Stars back on November 18, 7-2 The Stars opened as -115 favorites at home on Bovada Sportsbook, while the Wild are -105 underdogs with a total of 5.5 goals. Minnesota has won four straight contests in the series, including the last contest in Dallas.
Struggling Wild Look to Right Ship
The Minnesota Wild (19-8-2) were the hottest team in the NHL, winners of seven straight games. However, they are 0-2-1 in their last three contests with two games postponed. The Wild are 0-3 ATS in their last three games. This comes after seven straight ATS victories.
Minnesota lost to Buffalo in a shootout last Thursday, 3-2. The Wild twice had one goal leads only to see Buffalo battle back to tie the score in each instance. Cam Talbot had a solid performance in net, stopping 38 of 40 shots.
The Wild have been a scoring machine this season, second in the NHL in goals per game at 3.620 and in shooting percentage at 10.9%. This despite a mediocre power-play that is connecting on only 17.0% of their opportunities, 23rd overall.
Stars End Skid with OT Victory
The Dallas Stars (14-12-2) saw their five-game losing streak come to an end with a big victory in overtime over Chicago. The Stars were another team that was playing exceptionally well entering December, but scoring abandoned the team as they produced just three goals over the four games prior to the victory over the Blackhawks.
John Klingberg scored the game-winner in overtime on the power-play, his first goal of the season. Joe Pavelski had a big evening, scoring two goals and adding two assists. Roope Hintz had three assists.
Statistically, Dallas has been a mediocre team this season. They are 25th in goals per game (2.64) and 16th in goals allowed per contest (2.86). The one area where they have excelled is on the power-play, where they are fourth overall at 26.8%.
Trends:
Minnesota:
- 8-3 in their last 11 games.
- Five-to in their last seven games on a Monday.
Dallas:
- 1-5 in their last six.
- 1-5 in their last six games against Western Conference teams.
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars Pick
Dallas enters as the favorite in this contest, which oddsmakers must believe is earned after snapping their five-game losing streak. That is a lot of respect for a single victory. It is true that the Wild are struggling, but they are the better team overall.
Dallas has been great at home this season (10-3-1), but they have not been invincible at American Airlines Center of late, losing to St. Louis before pulling out the overtime victory over Chicago. This team has been vulnerable recently, and that should help the Wild to win.
Pick: Take Minnesota Wild at -105
The Total:
This contest features two teams who are recently struggling to score goals. In the last three contests, Minnesota has come up with seven total goals, this after scoring at least four in four straight games of December. Dallas got four goals on Saturday, but they had been held to three total goals in the previous four contests. It took a season-high four points from Joe Pavelski to help the team earn their victory.
These teams have gone under in five of the last six meetings in Dallas and the Starz have gone under in seven of their last eight games at home and 11 of their last 13 overall. The under is definitely the smart pick.
Pick: Go under 5.5 goals at -105