Stars vs. Ducks Odds
| Stars Odds | -310 |
| Ducks Odds | +250 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +105/ -125 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks on Friday, March 8 — our expert NHL prediction and pick.
These clubs recently squared off with Dallas securing a 4-3 overtime victory at the end of January. With inconsistent goaltending on both sides, let's take a look at why I anticipate another high-scoring affair on Friday night.
Let's dig into the odds and make a Stars vs. Ducks prediction and pick in my NHL betting preview.
Dallas Stars
Goaltender Jake Oettinger is slated to guard the cage for Dallas and could be a good fade candidate. Through 40 appearances this season, Oettinger possesses a mere .899 SV%.
There is no denying that his ceiling high and that he could become the face of the goaltending position in this league. However, the results just haven't been there this year.
Oettinger has allowed three or more goals in five of his past eight starts and has posted a troubling .863 SV% and a 3.25 GAA over that stretch. On the other hand, he still boasts a 24-11-4 record this season, a testament to the Stars' powerhouse offense.
Entering this matchup, Dallas ranks second in the league in goals scored per game.
Anaheim Ducks
That offense is likely to have a field day against Anaheim's blue line. Bleeding high-danger scoring chances at a high rate, the Ducks rank 27th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5.
Backing up that poor defense is goaltender John Gibson, who is projected to start between the pipes. Through 39 appearances this year, Gibson is 13-20-2 with a .898 SV% and a 3.15 GAA.
With that combination of bad defensive play and a struggling goaltender, it's no surprise that the Ducks rank 26th or lower in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game, penalty kill percentage and penalty minutes taken per game. The offense hasn't been great either, but Anaheim is still averaging north of three goals per game over its past 10.
Stars vs. Ducks
Betting Pick & Prediction
Dallas could easily put up four or five goals in this matchup, which means we'll only need two or three from the Ducks to cash this over. Considering Oettinger's poor form — both recently and on the season as a whole — Anaheim should be able to at least contribute that much for us.
Not only will the Stars create their chances at even-strength, but they could also capitalize on special teams, which is always good for an over. This year, the Ducks rank last in penalty minutes taken per game and 27th in penalty kill percentage.
Meanwhile, Dallas ranks ninth in power play percentage and third in shooting percentage. Finally, we are catching a particularly good price on Over 6.5 at +100 via FanDuel, a line that is five-to-10 cents longer than the rest of the market.
Pick: Over 6.5 (+100 at FanDuel | Play to -105)
(For extra value betting the over, use our FanDuel Promo Code and get bonus bets as a new user welcome.)
