The Dallas Stars failed to get the job done at the end of what was looking like a promising six-game road trip, but the good news for Stars bettors is they’re set to return home for a four-game homestand at American Airlines Center. The Stars kick things off on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Sportsbooks opened the Stars as +105 home underdogs with a total of 5.5.
- The Sharks are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five games vs the Stars.
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of the Sharks’ last 12 games vs the Stars (avg. combined score: 6.25).
- The total has gone OVER in six of the Sharks’ last seven games (avg. combined score: 7.0).
Seguin is struggling to find the back of the net this season
Dallas was overmatched in the finale of its road trek and fell 4-1 to Columbus after dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to Boston in its previous game. Regardless, the Stars still managed to post a 3-2-1 record on the excursion. The team could use a breakout effort from Tyler Seguin, as the center is mired in a career worst-tying 12-game goal drought and has only three tallies on the year. Seguin still tops all Stars players with 14 points.
San Jose dropped the first two contests of its four-game homestand but rebounded to post 4-3 triumphs over Philadelphia and Minnesota. Defenseman Brent Burns has been a major bright spot for the Sharks in 2018-19, as the veteran has amassed 18 points over his past 12 contests. The Sharks have historically struggled against the Stars in Texas, going 0-4 SU in their last four trips to Dallas.
Is yet another OVER in store?
Sharp puck bettors know the Stars and Sharks have a penchant for going OVER totals with ease. In the past 12 meetings between the clubs, the OVER is 11-1 with an average combined score of 6.3 goals. The Sharks have been a reliable OVER wager on their own lately, eclipsing the closing total in six of their previous seven games.
When it comes to the puckline, it’s been tough to trust the Sharks in this series. San Jose is 1-4 on the puckline in its past five matchups with Dallas. The Sharks’ -1.5 puckline price is available at +220.
Jones, Khudobin slated to start in the crease
Martin Jones and Anton Khudobin have been tabbed as the probable starting goaltenders. Jones (7-3-1, 2.72 goals-against average, .899 save percentage) has three wins along with two regulation losses on the road this season. Khudobin (2-1-1, 2.21 GAA, .929 SV%) has fared well in relief of Ben Bishop, but the netminder suffered an overtime loss to the Bruins in his last matchup where he turned aside 33 of 35 shots.
