In what has all the looks of a tough defensive series, the Dallas Stars will stay in Calgary and face off against the Flames for game two of this best of seven series. The Stars fell to the Flames 1-0 in game one.
There is sure to be a lot of tension in the air after some of the extracurricular activities that occurred on the ice during game one. These two teams are fighting for a Stanley Cup and are surely going to play like it in game two tonight. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 pm Eastern Time at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.
Stars at Flames Stats
Dallas Stars Stats
The Dallas Stars found themselves on the losing end in game one. It was a tight game on the scoreboard the entire game, but ultimately the Stars fell short.
They were outshot 16-26 during the contest. Ultimately, the Stars have had issues scoring goals this season as they have only averaged 2.2 goals per game during their last ten contests. If Dallas wants to make this series go deeper, they must be able to find a way to score, and that starts with getting more shots on net.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger played well in game one. Obviously, he only surrendered the one goal against in the first game of the series. With 25 saves in game one, Oettinger currently has a .962 save percentage. He is giving his team every chance to win the game so look for the Stars to press for goals on offense.
NHL betting odds are sure to have the Stars as the underdog in this matchup. They got beat handily in game one. They were outshot, lossed the faceoff battle, and weren’t disciplined, so this Dallas team will use this game as a learning experience and wipe the slate clean in game two.
Calgary Flames Stats
The Calgary Flames came into these playoffs as one of the NHL betting picks to win the Stanley Cup. They played like it in game one of the series. One of the best defensive teams in the NHL during the regular season showed why in the first game. They shut out the Stars by playing team defense and making space difficult for their opposition.
While their offense didn’t explode as it has in the past, they were able to put up enough pressure on the Stars to get one goal past Oettinger. They were the more physical team on the ice and have let Dallas know that nothing is going to come easy in this series.
The veteran netminder, Jacob Markstrom, was at it again. He posted a shutout in game one while making all 16 saves that came his way. He is trusting his team to do their job and keep the chances to a minimum against him. If the Flames play to the level they did in game one again, expect Markstrom to feel comfortable in the crease.
While the Flames would like to add more scoring touch to their game as game two approaches, as long as they are playing consistent defense, is what matters most to them. This Calgary team was one of the NHL expert picks to win the Stanley Cup at the beginning, and they are sure to play up to that level in game two and beyond.
Stars at Flames Betting Trends
- Calgary has a total record of 43-14 as the favorite this season
- The Flames have been under in the last two of Markstrom’s starts
- Stars are 0-4 in their last 4 games as a road underdog
- Calgary has won the last three games against the Stars
Stars at Flames Predictions
The Calgary Flames are hoping for a repeat of game one as the Stars look to even the series in this Western Conference battle. Currently, the Flames are the -225 Moneyline favorite for game two, while the Stars are a +201 underdog. Expect the Flames to continue to play tight defense while coming out with a win in game two.
The over/under for this matchup is set at 5.5 total goals. The over odds are -101, while the under odds are -109. While many fans would expect the scoring to increase in this game, NHL betting stats would show that these teams have played toward the under more frequently than not.
The playoffs are played at a different pace with a more physical aspect to the game. Have confidence in playing the under 5.5 with -109 odds between these two teams in game two.
Conclusion
All in all, this game is sure to feature plenty of entertainment for fans of hockey. Look for the animosity from game one to carry over into game two tonight. While the Stars finished the regular season playing well, they are unfortunately running into one of the top teams in the NHL.
The Flames will look to instill their style of play onto the Stars as they look to take a 2-0 series lead when they head to Dallas. Be sure to tune in to TBS tonight and watch for the fireworks that will come about as these two Stanley Cup hopefuls battle it out.
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