Predators vs. Stars Game 6 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
The St. Louis Blues await the winner of this series as the Blues upset the Winnipeg Jets in their series. The Western Conference feels wide open after the team with the most points in the conference, Calgary, was knocked off by Colorado. That makes two division champions ousted already following Tampa Bay’s stunning sweep at the hands of Columbus. Nashville was the Central Division champion.
Predators vs Stars Betting Analysis
With the Stars leading this series 3-2, they are -357 on the series line at Sports Interaction with the Predators at +235. Game 7, if needed, would be Wednesday back in Nashville. Dallas netminder Ben Bishop was 17-7-2 at home during the regular season with a 1.90 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and six shutouts. Stellar numbers. Nashville’s Pekka Rinne was 11-10-3 on the road with a 2.72 GAA and .915 SV – all significantly worse numbers than at home.
The road team has won seven of the past 10 between these teams. The total has gone over in nine of the previous 11 in Dallas.
Nashville Predators
The Predators did win Game 3 in Dallas, 3-2, but lost Game 4 there 5-1. On Saturday, it was a 5-3 home defeat that put Nashville in this hole. Rinne, last season’s Vezina Trophy winner, has been off in the past two. He was pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots in Game 4 and then stopped just 21 of 26 shots in Game 5. His GAA is 3.55 in the series. Still little doubt he gets the start Monday over Juuse Saros, but Rinne could have a short leash.
Nashville needs more from Viktor Arvidsson. He led the team with 34 goals in the regular season (in only 58 games) and doesn’t have a point in this series. Blueliner Roman Josi leads the Predators with four points (2G, 2A) in the series.
Dallas Stars
The Stars got two goals each from Alexander Radulov and Jason Dickinson in the Game 5 win, while Jamie Benn contributed three assists, all coming in the second period. That tied an NHL playoff record for assists in a period. Benn leads the team with six points in the series.
Dallas has scored at least five goals in back-to-back playoff games for only the ninth time in franchise history and first since the 1991 conference finals when the team was the Minnesota North Stars. Bishop saved 30 of 33 shots in Game 5. He was named a finalist for this year’s Vezina Trophy.
NAS
DAL