The Dallas Stars host the Anaheim Ducks in quite an interesting NHL matchup on Monday, November 18, 2024, at the American Airlines Center.
The Stars, to nobody’s surprise, are rolling into this game with an 11-5 record, while the Ducks on the other hand look to build momentum at 6-8-2.
Here's our detailed breakdown of the odds, insights, and our best bet for this game.
The Stars enter as heavy, heavy faves at -400, with the Ducks listed at +300 depending on the book.
That’s quite a spread on the odds, but when you look at these two teams, it’s easy to see why the Stars are such heavy favorites heading into tonight.
The over/under is set at 6.5 goals which tells us the bookmakers don’t think the scoring will get out of hand.
Given Dallas’ form and home dominance, the odds strongly favor them maintaining their stellar home record.
The Ducks are coming off a gritty 6-4 win over Detroit. They started off slow in that game but gained some steam. They scored 4 consecutive goals to secure the victory.
The team is averaging 2.44 goals per game but struggling to do much defensively. They’re allowing 3.13 goals per game. Their special teams have also been inconsistent. With a modest 14.5% power play success rate and a disappointing 66.7% penalty kill, they have to do something different if they want to get back on their feet.
Key players like Troy Terry (6 goals, 6 assists) and Trevor Zegras need to spark consistent offense against a Dallas defense that’s been absolutely tough to crack.
Between the pipes, goaltender Lukas Dostal has a .922 save percentage. He will need to be at his best to keep Anaheim competitive and alive in this matchup.
The Stars have been dominant all season long. This is especially true at home where they boast a 7-1-0 record at the American Airlines Center.
Dallas is firing on all 8 cylinders offensively, averaging a dominant 3.38 GPG, while their defense holds opponents to just a mere 2.25 goals per game. Special teams are also as sharp as a tack, with a whopping 85.4% PK and an 18% power play efficiency. This is looking more and more like another playoff run for the Stars.
Matt Duchene leads the charge on the offense with 9 goals and 11 assists, while Mason Marchment has scored in 3 back-to-back games.
The one and only, goalie Jake Oettinger (.956 save percentage in his last 3 games), anchors a defense that rarely gives opponents a chance.
The Ducks have shown a few flashes of resilience, but their inconsistent offense and dismal PK are the biggest issues they have against a complete team like Dallas.
The Stars, with superior depth, momentum, and pure dominance should crush it in this matchup.
We expect Dallas to control possession throughout the entirety of the game and to capitalize on Anaheim’s defensive lapses. They’ll also take advantage of their weak penalty kill.
The Stars have also covered the puck line in 6 of their last 7 home games, a trend we think will likely continue.
Betting on Dallas -1.5 offers a bit of value, as the Stars should cruise to a comfortable win.
BettorsInsider Score Prediction: Dallas Stars 5, Anaheim Ducks 2
Bet confidently on Dallas's -1.5 puck line and don’t overlook the Under 6.5 goals if Anaheim struggles offensively.