Dallas Stars favourites against Minnesota Wild – NHL Preview
Dallas Stars have been outstanding throughout this month and their surge has certainly guaranteed a playoff berth for them as they are presently leading the National Hockey League (NHL) Pacific Division.
In such a scenario, a game against the slumping Minnesota Wild is an opportunity for Stars to increase the gap between them other teams that are also competing hard to qualify for the postseason.
Wild have very low or no hopes of qualifying for the playoffs as they are ranked below the comfort zone in the Western Conference and are certainly not among the best teams of the Northwest Division.
Both teams are going to face off on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Here is a look at both teams.
Stars
Presently on a five-game winning streak, Stars have not lost any game this month.
The victories came against Edmonton Oilers (3-1), Calgary Flames (3-2 after shootout), Vancouver Canucks (5-2), San Jose Sharks (4-3 after shootout) and Anaheim Ducks (2-0),
Stars’ coach, Glen Gulutzan, said of the goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, who got a shutout against Ducks:
"Our goalie didn't look like he was going to give up anything. The defence packed it in well and prevented second shots. The best part of my day was when I heard the buzzer and that guy got a shutout. We owed him one."
Stars are ranked at third spot in the Western Conference with 81 points after 69 games.
Wild
They have only won one game this month and lost five with the recent defeat coming against Calgary Flames.
Flames were leading, 1-0, after the end of the second period. Wild struck back hard and scored three goals in the final period, but they also conceded three goals and eventually lost the game.
Wild’s coach, Mike Yeo, said:
"We owe our fans a good game here. There's been too many games in a row where we've come out flat in our own building. It would be nice if we had five or six guys that would like to win. ... We're going to be playing guys that want to play hard."
Wild are ranked at 13th spot in the Western Conference with 68 points after 69 games.
Predictions
Stars have an evident edge.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might stay under six.
In case of Wild’s victory, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
Tags: