Season Series: Stars lead 3-0 Utah
Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: Utah16; ESPN+
After a shootout loss to the Nashville Predators in their final home game, the Utah Hockey Club (36-30-13) heads to Dallas to face the Stars (50-23-6). This will be the fourth and final meeting between the two Central Division foes. The Stars won all three previous matchups, including one 3-2 in overtime. Utah captain Clayton Keller is two points away from breaking his career high in points. The forward has 85 points (27 goals, 58 assists) in 78 games this season.
Stars centre Matt Duchene recently had his seven-game point streak snapped against the Winnipeg Jets. The 34-year-old registered eight points (three goals, five assists) in the span. The Stars will likely meet the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs, while Utah is already eliminated from contention.
With Utah out of the playoff race, they will only be playing for pride at this point. However, Utah made a strong push and fell just short. Utah is 5-3-2 in their last ten games, averaging 3.2 goals for and 2.9 goals against. Without goaltender Karel Vejmelka, Utah would not have finished as close as they did. He started in 22 consecutive games and still has a 2.51 GAA, which is ranked tenth among goaltenders.
The offence has been clicking for Utah. They won four of their last six and scored 24 goals. They rank 21st in goals per game and will need goals to beat the Stars. Utah wants to finish the regular season on a strong note.
The past few games have not been good showings from the Stars. They let a 5-2 lead slip away in the final minute of the third period against the Vancouver Canucks. Dallas was on the wrong side of history in that game. The Canucks became the first team to ever win a game after overcoming a three-goal deficit in the final minute of regulation. The Stars are currently in a four-game losing streak and have 18 goals during the skid. They are still 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, averaging 3.5 goals for and 2.5 goals against.
Dallas needs to clean up their defence if they hope to get back in the win column. They rank fourth in goals allowed per game and second in penalty kill. The Stars will have a tough test because Utah is not a team that goes away easily.
Dallas is one of the league’s best teams, sitting third in the overall standings with 106 points. Despite that, it is unlikely they win the Central Division with the Jets ahead by six points. Look for Wyatt Johnston to score a goal, he has scored six over the last 10 games. For Utah, watch for Keller to record a point. He has three goals and six assists over his past 10 games.
Vejmelka (25-21-8) is likely to start for Utah. Casey DeSmith (14-7-2) is projected to start for the Stars as he and Jake Oettinger have split the starting duties to end the regular season. Dallas will likely take this matchup and sweep Utah in the season series.
Based on these notes for a prop bet, Johnston is a +200 anytime goal scorer. If we mix in Clayton Keller to record a point, it is -166.
Prediction: 4-2 Stars
Main Photo Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
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