Pacific Conference NHL Odds: Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Frank Martin
Improbable as it may sound, the Anaheim Ducks continue to harbor hopes of making a second-half run for a postseason berth in the Western Conference. That seemed to be a preposterous notion after the Ducks skidded into oblivion following a six-week stretch in which they managed only two wins in 18 games.
Anaheim, though, has regained its footing and will look to enter the NHL All-Star break with six consecutive wins when they visit the plummeting Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The five-game winning streak has left the Ducks 11 points out of the No. 8 slot in the West, so they know the margin of error is razor-thin.
"Our goal … was to win out going into the All-Star break,” left wing Bobby Ryan said. “Every two points going forward is monumental.” The Stars have dropped five straight to fall four points out of the final playoff berth.
- Anaheim Ducks @ Dallas Stars
When: 8:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Anaheim), FS Southwest (Dallas)
The Stars have opened as 115-moneyline favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NHL Hockey Odds.
Anaheim Ducks (18-22-7): Goaltender Jonas Hiller has keyed the resurgence for Anaheim, which is 8-0-1 in its last nine. He won his fifth consecutive start with a season high-tying 43 saves in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Colorado. Hiller has lost all three career starts against Dallas, including a pair this season in which he surrendered eight goals. Ryan scored a pair of goals against the Avalanche, extending his points streak to eight games. He has 14 points in his last 13 games.
Dallas Stars (24-21-2): All-Star Jamie Benn, Dallas’ second-leading scorer, was placed on injured reserve after missing the past four games because of an appendectomy. The Stars have felt his absence, scoring only six goals during the five-game skid. Captain Brenden Morrow will also sit out Tuesday, although center Mike Ribeiro (knee) could return after missing seven games. On Monday, Dallas signed defenseman Alex Goligoski to a four-year, $18.4 million contract extension. He was part of the trade that sent James Neal to Pittsburgh last season.
1. Anaheim will be looking to match its longest win streak since reeling off six straight in November 2010. The Stars last lost six straight from March 19-April 2 last season.
2. The Stars have dominated the Ducks at home. Anaheim is 8-20-1 in its last 29 visits.
3. During the five-game winning streak, the Ducks are 5 of 13 on the power play and have allowed only seven goals.
NHL PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Stars 2
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