Stars vs. Predators Game 5 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
The first-round NHL Western Conference playoff series between the Stars and Predators returns to Nashville on Saturday afternoon for a crucial Game 5 with the clubs tied 2-2.
Stars vs Predators Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
Probably don’t need to remind bettors that the winner of a Stanley Cup playoff series Game 5 when it was tied 2-2 takes the series the vast majority of the time (nearly 79 per cent). These teams split the first two games in Nashville. The Stars stole the opener 3-2 – the only game we have missed on our recommendations in this series – and the Predators took Game 2, 2-1 in overtime.
During the regular season, Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne was 19-9-1 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .920 save per centage at home. Dallas counterpart Ben Bishop was 10-8-0 with a 2.09 GAA and .931 SV per centage on the road.
The road team is 5-2 in the past seven meetings. The total has gone under in six of the past seven in Nashville.
Dallas Stars
The Stars assured there would be at least one more game in Dallas this NHL season with Wednesday’s 5-1 victory, the only game in this series thus far decided by multiple goals. If a team scores three power-play goals in a postseason game, it’s going to win. That was the case in Game 4 as the Stars went 3-for-6 with the man advantage after failing to score on the power play in the previous two games, both losses. Game 4 was over after one period with the Stars up 4-0. Rookie Roope Hintz got things started with a power-play goal at 3:42, followed by goals from Alexander Radulov at 4:58 (power play), Andrew Cogliano at 8:24 and Mats Zuccarello at 13:45 (power play).
It was the first time the Stars scored three power-play goals in one period of a playoff game since moving to Dallas. Hintz would earn No. 1 star honours with his second goal of the game at 10:09 of the second for a 5-0 lead. Blueliner John Klingberg recorded three assists.
Goaltender Ben Bishop allowed one goal on 34 shots.
Nashville Predators
Sometimes, even the best goaltenders in the world don’t have it for one reason or another, and Pekka Rinne didn’t in Game 4 as the reigning Vezina Trophy winner was pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots.
Nashville hadn’t allowed three power-play goals in any period this season or faced a four-goal deficit after the first period. Juuse Saros replaced Rinne and stopped 20 of 21 shots. Saros played really well this season, too, but there’s almost no chance he starts Game 5. Rinne has started 87 straight playoff games for Nashville.
Roman Josi’s second goal of this series ruined Bishop’s shutout attempt at 8:11 of the third.
DAL
NAS