Stars vs. Predators Game 2 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
For what it’s worth, Nashville was unbeaten in home Game 2s in last year’s playoffs, beating Colorado 5-4 in the first round and Winnipeg 5-4 in double overtime in the second round – but the Predators would lose that Jets series in seven. Dallas is in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Stars vs. Predators Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
Entering Game 1, Nashville was -238 on the Sports Interaction series line and Dallas +167, and we liked the Predators in six games. We still like Nashville but in seven games. The Predators are now +120 underdogs on the series line with Dallas at -140. On the Sports Interaction odds to win the West, the Predators and Stars are both +700.
Teams that take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series own an all-time series record of 467-214, including 140-108 when that first win came on the road. Dallas was one of three road teams to steal Game 1 on Wednesday.
Dallas Stars
We have an early favourite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. OK, that’s obviously tongue-in-cheek, but Stars rookie blueliner Miro Heiskanen, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Finland, had a historic playoff debut in Dallas’ 3-2 upset win on Wednesday.
Heiskanen had two goals, one on the power play, to become the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score twice in his playoff debut. Heiskanen was 19 years, 266 days old Wednesday, making him the third-youngest defenseman in league history to score multiple goals in a postseason game. Buffalo’s Phil Housley (1983) and Boston’s Glen Wesley (1988) are the only younger. Heiskanen had 12 goals during the regular season. Trade deadline acquisition Mats Zuccarello had the other Dallas goal, and Vezina Trophy candidate Ben Bishop had 30 saves.
Nashville Predators
The Predators rarely lose at home when they take a lead, and they did in Game 1 at 12:12 of the first thanks to defenseman Roman Josi. However, the Preds didn’t score again until blueliner and Toronto native P.K. Subban made it 3-2 at 13:24 of the third. When a team gets multiple goals from defenseman in the playoffs, that usually results in a victory.
Nashville did outshoot Dallas, outhit the Stars and dominated in the faceoff circle. However, Dallas was 1-for-3 on the power play and the Preds 0-for-4. The Predators were last in the NHL during the season with the man advantage. They are now 3-5 in their last eight home playoff games.
DAL
NAS