Dallas Stars vs Nashville Predators

Dallas won the division last season and had a +64 goal differential, the best in the West. They also had the best road record (26-10-5) in the NHL. They are loaded again on a team that was third in goals scored and eighth in goals allowed. Dallas has won five of its last six road games. Nashville crept into the playoffs last year as a Wild Card and was eliminated in the first round by Vancouver in six games. The defense was 15th in goals allowed. Dallas holds a 6-2 edge in the past eight games of this series, including a 9-2 win when they last met in February. Play Dallas to grab another win. 

Dallas had beaten the Predators five straight before losing the past two meetings, including 6-3 on Jan. 12. The Stars will look to avenge those losses tonight and they are expected to have Jake Oettinger between the pipes and he owns a 19-9-2 record and 2.90 goals-against average. The Stars have won six of seven and Oettinger stopped 32 of 34 shots in their 4-2 victory over Carolina on Tuesday night when Jason Robertson scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period. Juuse Saros is probable for Nashville and he is 20-20-2 this season. The Predators are 1-5 their past five as home underdogs and 4-1 OVER versus teams with winning records. Dallas has gone OVER eight Thursday games in a row and they have won four straight playing with one day of rest. Take the Stars (Max Play), and the OVER.

Dallas had beaten the Predators five times in a row before losing the last meeting 4-3 on Saturday. Now the Stars look for payback in a quick revenge spot and the Stars have won both their games since while defeating Minnesota twice by a combined score of 11-2. The Stars won 7-2 on Wednesday and got seven goals from seven players and Scott Wedgewood had 21 saves. Wedgewood is 12-4-3 and is expected in net tonight as Jake Oettinger still is questionable as he recovers from a lower-body injury. Nashville has lost six of nine following a 5-3 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday. Juuse Saros allowed all five goals to raise his GAA to 3.08 and his record now is 16-15-1 on the season. Dallas has averaged 4.86 goals its past seven games. Take the Stars as a Max Play.

Dallas has beaten the Predators five times in a row and Nashville has scored only seven goals in those games, including a 3-2 loss on Dec. 23 in the first meeting this season. The Predators have lost four of their past six games following a 6-3 defeat to Calgary on Thursday when Juuse Saros gave up five goals before Kevin Lankinen relieved and allowed one more. Saros is likely back in net tonight with a 16-14-1 record and 3.01 goals-against average. Scott Wedgewood is likely for Dallas and he owns a 11-3-3 mark this season. The Stars have won five of eight, but lost their past two against Montreal and Colorado and they blew a 4-2 lead in the third period against the Avalanche. Dallas has won 35 of the past 52 meetings with Nashville. Take the Stars.