As the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs heats up, the Dallas Stars and Seattle Kraken are set to face off for the first time in their playoff history.
With both teams coming off impressive first-round victories, it’s time to put our money where our mouth is and make a bold prediction – the Stars are going to light up the night sky and emerge victorious over the Kraken in this epic battle on the ice.
Before we get to your picks for this game in the NHL playoffs, you will want to check out our list of the best hockey betting sites and the Vegas odds for the upcoming 2023 NHL playoffs games.
Dallas Stars
Before you call me a Stars fanboy or accuse me of bias, let me hit you with the cold, hard facts. The Stars boast an impressive 47-21-14 record, racking up 108 points this season, and they’ve already proven their mettle by defeating the Minnesota Wild in six games during the first round.
The Kraken, while a formidable opponent with a 46-28-8 record and 100 points, just barely scraped by the Colorado Avalanche in a full seven-game series. If that doesn’t scream “momentum advantage” for Dallas, I don’t know what does.
Roope Hintz, the Stars’ forward, has been an absolute force of nature during these playoffs, leading the charge with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in just six games.
The Kraken’s top scorer, Yanni Gourde, pales compared to only six points (one goal, five assists) in seven games. With Hintz firing on all cylinders, it’s hard to imagine the Kraken keeping up with this high-octane Dallas offense.
On the goaltending front, Jake Oettinger has been an absolute brick wall for the Stars. He’s been a reliable force in the net, posting a 4-2 record with a stellar 2.01 goals-against average (GAA) and a .929 save percentage in the playoffs.
The Kraken’s Philipp Grubauer has been no slouch either, but his 2.44 GAA and .926 save percentage in seven starts just don’t quite measure up to Oettinger’s impressive stats.
Oddsmakers pricing the Dallas Stars at -200 indicates they have a little better than 66% chance to win this game. I can’t disagree with them after the shocking OT loss they suffered to the Kraken on Tuesday night, and I think the Stars bounce back.
Let’s not forget about the face-off circle, where Dallas has been dominating with a 56.3% winning percentage, the best in the playoffs so far.
Seattle Kraken
This kind of puck possession advantage is crucial when it comes to controlling the tempo of the game and generating scoring opportunities. The Kraken will have their work cut out for them if they want to steal the puck from this face-off juggernaut.
If you’d like to be bold and think the Kraken can keep winning on the road as underdogs, you can bet on them at +170 odds at BetUS. That’s more than a fair price, if you’d like to back them.
I would not recommend betting on the Kraken to win this game on the money line, regardless of the odds.
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Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But what about Seattle’s penalty kill?” Yes, the Kraken have been impressive on the PK, posting an 88.9% success rate in the playoffs.
However, the Stars’ power play has been downright lethal, scoring nine goals and tying for second in the league behind the Boston Bruins. If the Kraken take a few penalties, they’ll be playing with fire against this dangerous Dallas man-advantage.
And as for the “over” part of my prediction, both teams have shown a penchant for putting the biscuit in the basket throughout the playoffs. With Hintz and Gourde leading the way, we expect plenty of goals to be scored in this high-stakes clash of titans, so don’t be surprised if the scoreboard keeps ticking up.
When you take a deep dive into the stats and performances of both teams, it’s hard not to see the Dallas Stars coming out on top in this Western Conference showdown.
With their scoring prowess, goaltending stability, and face-off dominance, it’s all systems go for the Stars. So, buckle up and get ready for a wild ride, because tonight, the Stars are set to shine brighter than ever.
I am picking the Dallas Stars at home to even the series at 1-1. The home crowd should help the Stars even this series before heading to Seattle for game 3.
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