Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, our team here at Last Word on Hockey breaks down head-to-head matchups and other key elements that may influence the outcome of each game. This NHL Predictions article takes a look at the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars vs. Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Stars 1-0 Predators
Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: Victory+; ESPN+; Sportsnet; Fan Duel Sports South
The Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators meet for the second time this season as the Predators travel to Dallas for the first time in 2024.
The teams met in the season opener on Oct. 10, with Dallas emerging with a 4-3 win. Dallas jumped on Nashville early in that game with a four-goal second period. Filip Forsberg made it a 2-1 game, but Mason Marchment scored twice for Dallas to put the game out of reach. Nashville got two third-period goals, but Dallas hung on.
It was Nashville’s first of six consecutive losses to start the season. Despite having a competitive roster, the Predators have struggled. They have a 2-9-4 record on the road.
Dallas Stars Story
Dallas has been great at home (11-2-0) and is in the middle of a six-game homestand. Only one of those home losses actually came in Dallas.
The Stars have had to figure things out with some crucial offensive injuries throughout the season, and trail Winnipeg and Minnesota by eight points in the division. Dallas forward Tyler Seguin recently had surgery and will miss most (if not all) of the regular season. His line had been the most productive for the team this season, and he was among Dallas’ leading scorers.
The Stars are 2-2 without him and erupted for six goals in a win over Calgary on Sunday. Seguin’s linemates — Marchment and Matt Duchene — have continued to produce in his absence. Rookie Logan Stankoven has filled in for Seguin. The first line of Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston has also emerged after early struggles and injuries.
Dallas’ top two lines have accounted for nine goals and 16 points so far in December. Both were also extremely productive in the first meeting against Nashville with Hintz and Robertson adding to Marchment’s scoring. Defensively, the Stars have continued to shift around their pairings, seemingly playing with new combinations each night. Veterans Matt Dumba and Brendan Smith have been among those shuffling in and out as younger players like Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist have stepped up.
Nashville Predators Story
Nashville was the talk of the off-season after adding forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, defenceman Brady Skjei, and others to the roster. Many marked the Predators as a rising team in the Western Conference, but it has yet to work out as planned. They have just seven wins on the season and sit in a tie for last place in the Central Division with the Chicago Blackhawks with 20 points.
Nashville is just 1-6-3 in its last 10 games and has lost eight in a row. However, five of those were decided by just one goal. Marchessault had a slow start to the season, but he scored twice in a loss to Calgary on Tuesday and has three goals in four December games. He is third on the team with 15 points behind Forsberg and defenceman Roman Josi.
Josi and forward Gustav Nyquist are listed as day-to-day on the injury report. Nyquist missed Tuesday’s game.
NHL Prediction
Nashville is last in the NHL with 2.21 goals per game. Offensively challenged teams face an uphill climb against Dallas, especially following the Stars’ six-goal outing. As we’ve seen earlier this season, that doesn’t mean Dallas has suddenly fixed its offense and will erupt again. Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros has the capabilities to keep the Predators in the game, but the advantage ultimately lies with Dallas on home ice.
Prediction: Stars win 3-2
Prop Bets of the Night
While everyone focuses on Forsberg and Dallas’ top two lines, Stamkos (+220) and Marchessault (+250) to score at any time on Bet365 seems almost too good to pass up. They haven’t had their usual seasons as of now, but they are still among Nashville’s leading scorers. Jamie Benn at +250 and Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene at +280 are also appealing options in the same category for Dallas.
Main photo by: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 12 w/ Dallas Stars vs. Nashville Predators appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.