The Nashville Predators were Central Division champions and solid NHL Betting favorites on the series line for their Western Conference first-round matchup with the Dallas Stars. However, the Stars accomplished their goal of stealing one of the first two on the road and are favored in Big D for Game 3 on Monday.
How to Bet Predators vs Stars 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 3 Info
- When: Monday, 9:30 PM ET
- Where: American Airlines Center
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Dallas Stars -120 / Nashville Predators +100 (Total 5)
Why Bet on Nashville?
After being upset 3-2 in Game 1, the Preds took Game 2 of this series 2-1 in overtime. Craig Smith scored the overtime winner in Game 2. It appeared that Ben Bishop was going to steal another game from Nashville until Smith banged home a loose puck after Dallas’ Roman Polak batted it right to him by the side of the goal. It was the third career game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs for Smith, tied for the most in Nashville history (James Neal, Viktor Arvidsson, and David Legwand).Rocco Grimaldi scored the other Nashville goal. Grimaldi drew into the lineup with Brian Boyle missing the contest due to an illness and didn’t disappoint, burying a great backhand feed from Austin Watson to tie things up early in the second. It’s Grimaldi’s first playoff goal in his third career post-season game (appeared in two with the Florida Panthers in 2015-16).
Wayne Simmonds exited Game 2 just six minutes into the first period. Simmonds took a slap shot from teammate Roman Josi to his leg and appeared to injure his knee. He tested the ailment during the commercial break but was unable to continue. Boyle, meanwhile, is still dealing with an illness, according to coach Peter Laviolette.
Pekka Rinne stopped 22 of 23 shots in the win. The Stars were known as a good defensive team throughout the regular season, and they only allowed two goals in Game 2, but it was the Predators, who outshot Dallas by a 43-23 count and limited the quality chances for the visitors. In particular, Nashville was a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill, a key component in the win.
Nashville is now 8-8 all-time in overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and 5-4 at Bridgestone Arena.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.90
- Shots: 32.76
- PP/PK Percentage: 12.98
Defense
- Goals: 2.60
- Shots: 29.89
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.62
Why Bet on Dallas?
Jamie Benn scored the lone Dallas goal in Game 2. Tyler Seguin sent a saucer feed over to Benn in front of the net, with Dallas’ captain showing off some terrific hand-eye coordination to bat the puck out of the air and into the net. Benn had an average regular-season for his standards, but he has a goal and two points through the opening two games of the opening round.Seguin had the lone helper on the second-period goal by Benn. He posted four shots, two blocks and two hits in 23:16 of ice time. Seguin has 22 points in 51 career playoff matches.
Ben Bishop allowed two goals on 43 shots. Bishop had a great opportunity to steal both games from the Predators in Nashville but he couldn’t spot a loose puck in overtime in time before Craig Smith beat him to end tonight’s contest.
Winger Mattias Janmark left Saturday’s game temporarily in the second period after he went into the boards with Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis. Janmark didn’t put weight on his left leg but managed to return about 14 minutes later. “Amazing effort,” coach Jim Montgomery said. “Toughest Swede out there, I was joking with him. He’s a great player for us, and it meant a lot to our team when he came back.”
The Stars had six power play opportunities, but couldn’t cash in on any of them. The Stars iced the puck seven times in the third period and also drew the benefit of having the referee wave off a couple of more. They won just 41 percent of faceoffs, and they didn’t generate a ton of shots on goal at even strength. Dallas had just 14 shots on goal at even strength and finished with 23 for the game. Nashville had 33 shots on goal at even strength and finished with 43 overall.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.55
- Shots: 30.60
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.63
Defense
- Goals: 2.45
- Shots: 31.71
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.67
Predators vs Stars 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Trends
- Road team is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings
- Predators are 9-4 in the last 13 meetings
- Favorite is 22-9 in the last 31 meetings
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings
- Predators are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Dallas
- Over is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Dallas
