Both Teams Slumping as Season Ends
The Pittsburgh Penguins had lost four straight games coming into their matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday but finally stopped the bleeding.
In case you haven’t been following the NHL news, it’s been an ugly streak for the Pens, as two of those games saw them allow six goals and one finishing in a shutout.
However, they stormed out and picked up a 5-2 win over the reigning champs to snap that streak. Now, they play a Dallas Stars team on the road, who has lost three of their last four.
Which team is the best bet in this showdown?
Pittsburgh’s Star Gets Them Going Again
One of the bizarre aspects of the Pens’ cold streak was their slumping offense. Those who bet online saw them score five goals against Colorado but only seven goals in the four games before that.
Sidney Crosby was so focused on getting his team out of the slump that he didn’t even realize the milestone he surpassed against the Avalanche. He scored his 30th goal this season for the 11th time in his career, tying him for the most such seasons in Penguins history.
Crosby leads the way on this roster with a team-high 84 scored points, making him one of the best skaters in the league in that department. He’s followed very closely by longtime teammate Evgeni Malkin, who has 74 points, and Jake Guentzel, who has 64.
The key here is likely to be goaltender Tristan Jarry. If you’re looking at the NHL betting odds here, keep in mind that he has a lousy .868 save percentage this month.
Dallas Defense Struggling
The Stars have started their star goalie Jake Oettinger in net quite a bit in March, and while they’ve won at times, they’ve allowed a lot more goals than anticipated.
Oettinger is 6-2-1 throughout the month but has allowed 3.53 goals per game with just a measly .887 save percentage to go with it. His .917 save percentage on the season still ranks seventh in the league. That goes to show how much he’s struggled this month.
The team, as a whole, has been lacking defensively, allowing opponents to score over five goals in three of their last four games.
If you’re making your NHL picks here, the over seems to be the right play with Dallas.
Penguins vs Stars Game Injuries
Penguins vs Stars Head-to-Head
There’s only been one meeting between these teams, with the Penguins coming away with a 2-1 victory on Dec. 12.
Penguins vs Stars Game Information
- Game: Penguins (35-26-10) vs Stars (38-19-14)
- Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- Day/Time: Thursday, March 23, 9:00 p.m. ET
- Penguins vs Stars Live Stream: NHL.TV
Penguins vs Stars Betting Lines
Penguins vs Stars Picks and Prediction
Neither of these teams has performed well lately, making the game’s winner a tough one to predict in the sportsbook. That being said, there’s one trend that seems like it could be worth betting on: the total.
The total is currently set at 6½ goals, and the overlooks great for your sports bets. With both goaltenders struggling and neither team being strong defensively right now, over looks like the way to go.
Dallas is listed at -145 in our Vegas NHL lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Stars, there’s a chance to win $69. Pittsburgh is +125 with a chance to win $125 on a $100 wager. The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Penguins a 44.44% chance to win, with the Stars at 59.18%.
Penguins vs Stars Trends
Penguins vs Stars Edge
Penguins vs Stars Results
Penguins vs Stars Game Summary
