The Dallas Stars (23-7-5) visit the Anaheim Ducks (20-12-2) Friday at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The opening puck drop in the second Stars-Ducks game this season will be at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Stars vs. Ducks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Ducks lead 1-0
Dallas is playing the back half of a Thursday-Friday double. The -192 Stars downed the San Jose Sharks 5-3 (Over 6) Thursday. Over its last 8 games, Dallas is 6-2-0.
Anaheim is back on home ice after going 2-2-1 on a Dec. 9-16 road trip. The Ducks closed out that voyage Tuesday, losing a 4-3 (Over 6.5) overtime game at the -148 Columbus Blue Jackets. Friday’s contest against the Stars opens a stretch that has Anaheim at home for 6 of its next 7 games.
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Stars at Ducks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:42 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Stars -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Ducks -105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars -1.5 (+200) | Ducks +1.5 (-250)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Stars at Ducks projected goalies
Casey DeSmith (8-1-3, 2.13 GAA, .923 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Lukas Dostal (12-6-1, 2.73 GAA, .905 SV%)
DeSmith last played Monday, stopping 27 of 28 shots in a 4-1 triumph over the LA Kings. He owns a .944 SV% over his last 8 games.
Dostal was last between the pipes Monday at the New York Rangers. He stopped 26 of 27 pucks in a 4-1 Anaheim win.
Stars at Ducks picks and predictions
Prediction
Ducks 4, Stars 3
Anaheim is 3-0-1 when playing on 2 days of rest. At home, the Ducks have won 2 in a row and 3 of their last 4. Overall, they are 11-4-0 in 15 games on home ice. And against Dallas, they have won 3 of the last 4 meetings.
The road trip they are coming off marks the Ducks’ fifth of the season. In 5 return-home games, Anaheim has gone 4-1. A dependable offense has been a big part of the club’s consistency at home. Overall, the Ducks have scored 3.44 goals per game; that ranks second in the NHL.
And this play also has some fade-the-Stars tilt. Dallas owns the second-best record in the NHL but does not really have the advanced-stats profile to back that up. Corsi and shot-quality numbers indicate the Stars are a good team that is too far out over its skis. They have a terrific power play (32.1%), but their 5-on-5 play has slipped a bit over recent weeks. And perhaps that PP does not get many opportunities in this one. Over their last 8 games, the Ducks have averaged just 6.3 penalty minutes per game.
ANAHEIM (-105) is the value side.
No interest; PASS.
In the first series meeting of the season, the Over 6.5 did a fly-by in a 7-5 Anaheim conquest (Nov. 6). The 2 sides combined for 5 PP goals in that contest. The Over has prevailed in back-to-back series meetings and in 4 of the last 6 (4-2).
The Ducks have scored 24 goals over their last 6 home games.
Still, there are some season and recent-game expected-goal trends that play on both sides of this number. An overall lean is slight, but it rests with the OVER 6.5 (-105).
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