Stars vs Predators 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 2 Pick.

Stars vs Predators 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 2 Pick

Written by on April 12, 2019

The Nashville Predators look to even up their series vs. the Dallas Stars in their Western Conference first round on Saturday evening, while the Stars try to steal a second one on the road before the series shifts to Dallas. The Preds are solid NHL Betting favorites for Game 2.

How to Bet Stars vs Predators 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 2 Info

Why Bet on Dallas?

The Stars were 3-2 upset winners in Nashville in Game 1 on Wednesday. Rookie Miro Heiskanen had two goals. He became the third teenage defenseman in NHL history with two goals in a playoff game. Heiskanen (19 years, 266 days) was the third-youngest defenseman in NHL history to score multiple goals in a playoff game, behind only Buffalo’s Phil Housley (19 years, 44 days) in Game 6 of the 1983 Division Finals (2-0—2 vs. BOS) and Boston’s Glen Wesley (19 years, 235 days) in the suspended Game 4 of the 1988 Stanley Cup Final (2-0—2 vs. EDM).

He also became the eighth rookie teenage defenseman in NHL history and fifth-youngest with a goal in their first career playoff game, and first since Adam Larsson with New Jersey on May 1, 2012, against Philadelphia. Heiskanen also became the youngest in franchise history with a postseason goal at 19 years, 266 days. Heiskanen was the first Stars rookie skater to record a multi-goal game in the postseason since Niko Kapanen in Game 5 of the 2003 Conference Semifinals (2-0—2 vs. ANA).

Jason Dickinson momentarily left Game 1 against Nashville with an apparent injury but managed to return during the second period. Dickinson was leveled by Brian Boyle when the former was caught down low in his own zone with his head down. The 23-year old had played just 2:14 in the first period before leaving the contest. He surprisingly returned approximately midway through the second period. Dickinson had previously recorded 22 points in 67 regular season games. The third-year forward failed to record a point in Game 1 but finished with 2 shots on goal and 8:48 of total ice-time.

Ben Bishop made 29 saves in the win. The 31-year old was the first goaltender beat in this game, allowing a first period goal to defenseman Roman Josi, but saw his team score three consecutive goals over the next two periods. He also allowed a late goal in the final frame, but that’s as close as he would allow the Predators to tie the game. Despite battling injuries over the last month of the regular season, Bishop was dominant posting multiple shutouts.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Goals: 2.57
  • Shots: 30.69
  • PP/PK Percentage: 21.20

Defense

  • Goals: 2.46
  • Shots: 31.59
  • PP/PK Percentage: 16.87

Why Bet on Nashville?

Roman Josi scored the first Predators goal of the 2019 playoffs in the loss. Josi weaved his way into the slot with a few nifty moves before firing a backhander past Ben Bishop, opening the series scoring. After failing to score a goal in last year’s postseason, the 28-year old assured that the same would not happen in the 2019 playoffs. The seven-year veteran defenseman entered the series following a 56-point season, his second-best season effort in his NHL career. P.K. Subban scored the other Predators goal.

Pekka Rinne was beaten three times on 29 shots. Rinne was perfect through the first half of the game but was beat while shorthanded by a deflected Miro Heiskanen shot with just over eight minutes remaining in the second period. The rookie defenseman would get the better of the 36-year old again in the third period, placing the Predators in a 2-1 deficit. Despite allowing three goals, Rinne had a solid game.

Stars vs Predators should be a fun one.

The Finnish goaltender had won his last four regular season starts, never allowing more than two goals on a given night in that span. The last time Rinne allowed more than three goals in a night, it was a 5-0 loss and 38-save effort against the Jets on March 23.

“They were quicker,” Preds Coach Peter Laviolette said of the Stars. “We didn’t get it out of our end, they kept their forecheck going and they kept us in our end. We weren’t able to get it out; we weren’t able to get it to the neutral zone. I don’t know if it’s a simple game or if it’s a game where we needed more determination.”

Defenseman Dante Fabbro skated in his first career playoff game on Wednesday, recording one hit and one blocked shot in 11:45 of ice time.

The Preds now look to accomplish a feat that has never been done in franchise history – come back to win a series after falling in Game 1.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Goals: 2.92
  • Shots: 32.65
  • PP/PK Percentage: 13.13

Defense

  • Goals: 2.61
  • Shots: 29.98
  • PP/PK Percentage: 18.04

Stars vs Predators 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Trends

  • Road team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings
  • Favorite is 21-9 in the last 30 meetings
  • Under is 5-0-1 in the last 6 meetings in Nashville
  • Dallas is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
  • Dallas is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games on the road
  • The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Dallas’s last 23 games on the road
  • Nashville is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
  • Nashville is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Nashville’s last 13 games

Expert Final Score Prediction for Stars vs Predators

Dallas Stars 2 – Nashville Predators 3