Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars Game 2 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Central Division series between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars is well underway, as we gear up for Game 2. Game 1 brought us a surprising blowout, with Minnesota claiming a dominant 6-1 win on the road.
While things are early, this is a crucial game and must-watch NHL Stanley Cup playoffs entertainment. Will Dallas come out with a split, or will Minnesota head home with a commanding 2-0 series lead?
Wild vs. Stars NHL Betting Odds
Game 1 gave us a total of seven goals, which was generated from an offensive surge from Minnesota. In 82 regular-season games, these teams combined to see an over in 53 per cent of games. The total is set at 5.5 for this game, with -130 odds for the over and +110 for the under.
On the puckline, Dallas mightily struggled this regular season, covering just 31 of 82 spreads. They failed to cover in Game 1, but still come into this one at -1.5 (+195) on the NHL odds. Minnesota was even at 41-41, and will look to cover the spread yet again, and if they look anything like they did in Game 1, covering the +1.5 (-240) spread won’t be an issue.
Leading the way for Dallas as they try to even the series (-135 moneyline) is Jason Robertson (+120) and Wyatt Johnston (+160). Robertson was the lone goal scorer in Game 1. As for Minnesota (+115 moneyline), Kirll Kaprizov (+145) and Matt Boldy (+190) will try to find the scoresheet for the second game in a row.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild could not have asked for a better start. On the road in a tough building against an elite team is no easy task, and their 6-1 win has now fuelled them with a high level of momentum. However, this series has just begun.
An anomaly in Game 1 could be in the net. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger is truly elite and has already been in multiple deep playoff runs in his career. Five goals on 28 shots is nowhere near what we are used to from him, so I have high expectations for this one. Alternatively, Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt was elite in his first career playoff game, but will it last throughout?
Any Game 1, home ice jitters should be gone from Dallas, so Minnesota will have a lot of work to do. Even with another quick start, they will need to stay buttoned up against an overwhelming attack from a team who many think can win it all this year.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars have to come out firing here. In Game 1, they practically started behind the eight-ball from the get-go, with Minnesota scoring less than six minutes in. They will need to flip the script in Game 2, with a quick start of their own.
This organization is no stranger to playoff success. They have made the conference finals in three straight seasons, and have made the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons. I expect them to utilize this experience in a bounce-back effort.
Stars forwards Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin are out of the lineup with injury, but Dallas is a deep team that is absolutely filled with talent. This could hinder them as time goes on, but right now they should be able to rely on their remaining star power to carry them.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Wild vs. Stars Game 2?
The Stars have proven to be an elite home team this season, with a 26-11-4 record in the regular season. They came into this series as the favourites for a reason, and the veteran-savvy group knows a rebound performance is absolutely needed. I expect the Stars to produce a full effort the entire way through, even beyond 60 minutes if needed. We’ve got a long way to go in this series, but the Dallas Stars will even things up and take Game 2 by a score of 4-3.
