Welcome to another edition of NHL Predictions! We are going around the league and looking at this Saturday slate of games. We will highlight key matchups and give our prediction as to who we think will be victorious. Of course, we cannot forget those fun prop bets! For today’s prediction, we are heading to the Lone Star State. The Dallas Stars are hosting the St. Louis Blues in a Central Division battle.
NHL Predictions
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars
Time: 8:00 Eastern Standard Time
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Victory+
The Blues and Stars meet for the first time this season. Last season, the Blues won the season series, 2-0-2. The home team dominated the series, winning each game. Furthermore, three of the four games went into overtime or a shootout.
The Blues Story
The Blues head right back to the road after a one-game stop in St. Louis. The team is on the road again for a one game before heading back home.
The Blue Note head to Texas playing some of their best hockey of the season. Multiple things have been going right for the team. Robert Thomas has returned from injury and has excelled on the ice. Youngster Zachary Bolduc has shook off some early-season rust and has been a productive player on offence. Of course, the hiring of Jim Montgomery as the team’s new head coach has paid big dividends.
Speaking of Montgomery, the Blues could be entering their first test under their new head coach. The Blue Note lost a tough game on Thursday. The team was outplayed by their opponent at times. Furthermore, the Blues only had 12 shots through two periods. It is only one game, and it is not like it was the first loss under Montgomery, but one has to assume the honeymoon phase with Montgomery is approaching its end. Can the team make the adjustments to continue their winning ways? Saturday will help provide an answer.
The Stars Story
Like the Blues, the Stars are coming off a loss at home on Thursday. Unlike the Blues, the Stars find themselves in a playoff spot. They currently sit in third place in the Central Division. However, they are 11 points out of first place. This means that if the Stars want to claim the Central Division title and home-ice through the first two rounds of the playoffs, they need to start picking up as many points as possible.
For Stars fans, they may have the opportunity to welcome back two former Stars. First, Radek Faksa, who the Blues acquired from the Stars in a trade over the summer, returns to the city where he spent the first nine years of his career. However, it is unknown of Faksa will play on Saturday. The centre missed the game on Thursday due to an injury.
Secondly, Jim Montgomery returns to the city where he spent a season and a half as the Stars head coach. Montgomery coaches the Stars to the second round of the playoffs in 2019. However, he was fired in December of the same calendar year.
Prediction
This could be a high-scoring game. Both teams possess the fire power to put the puck in the net, despite both teams having strong goaltending. Last season, each game was decided by a goal. Furthermore, the home team one each game. We think those trends continue on Saturday.
Stars win 5-4.
Prop Bets
FanDuel has set the over/under at 5.5 goals. We are taking the over with nine total goals.
For anytime goal scorers, we like Matt Duchene for the Stars at +220. Duchene is currently tied for the team lead in goals with 12. For the Blues, we like Robert Thomas at +310.
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Main Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
