Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars NHL Picks & Predictions 12/20/2018

Thursday, December 20, 2018

American Airlines Center

Get todays NHL hockey odds on this game.

The Chicago Blackhawks travel to American Airlines Center to play the Dallas Stars on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has the Blackhawks at +145 and the Stars at -175.

Chicago has a record of 11-19-6 this season. They are 7th in the Central Division. They have scored 101 goals and given up 136 goals for a point differential of -35. For the season they have an ATS record of 10-25-0 and an over/under record of 20-13-0. Dallas has a record of 17-14-3 this year. They are 4th in the Central Division. They've scored 94 goals and surrendered 93 for a goal differential of +1. Their record against the spread is 16-17-0 while their over/under record is 12-17-0.

Valuable Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends

The Chicago Blackhawks are 10-25-0 straight up this year

The Chicago Blackhawks are 20-13-0 against the over/under this season

Important Dallas Stars Betting Trends

The Dallas Stars are 16-17-0 straight up this year

The Dallas Stars are 12-17-0 against the over/under this season

Key Chicago Blackhawks Injuries

12/19/18 C Marcus Kruger Concussion is out Thursday vs Dallas
12/18/18 GO Corey Crawford Concussion IR (12/18)
12/12/18 C Artem Anisimov Concussion IR (12/09)
12/08/18 D Gustav Forsling Shoulder IR (12/08)
11/16/18 D Brandon Davidson Leg is out indefinitely

Key Dallas Stars Injuries

12/18/18 C Jason Spezza Illness is questionable Thursday vs Chicago
11/19/18 D Marc Methot Lower Body IR (11/19)
11/09/18 D John Klingberg Upper Body IR (11/09)
11/02/18 D Connor Carrick Foot IR (11/02)
10/03/18 D Stephen Johns Head IR (10/03)

Player Spotlight

Cam Ward has 5 wins and 5 losses this season in net for the Blackhawks. He has 501 shots against him and he's given up 56 goals. He's made 445 saves for a save percentage of 89%. Jonathan Toews has accumulated 31 total points this season for the Blackhawks. He has 16 goals this year with 95 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 17%. He has a total of 15 assists on the season and averages 20.3 minutes played per game. Patrick Kane averages 22.1 minutes of ice time per game this year. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 11% by scoring 15 goals on 141 shots. He has 24 assists, giving him a total of 39 points on the season.

Player Spotlight

Tyler Seguin has scored 31 total points this year for the Stars. He has 10 goals this season with 136 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 7%. He has a total of 21 assists on the season and averages 20.9 minutes played per game. Ben Bishop has 11 wins and 8 losses this year in goal for the Stars. He has 606 shots against him and he's surrendered 47 goals. He's made 559 saves for a save percentage of 92%. Jamie Benn averages 18.7 minutes of ice time per game. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 16% by scoring 14 goals on 86 shots. He has 13 assists, giving him a total of 27 points on the season.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blackhawks have allowed 105 power play opportunities and have given up 29 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 72% this year. That is 31st in the NHL. They average 32 shots per game and as a team shoot 8.78% for the season. They allow 34 shots to their opposition per contest and have a team save percentage of 89%, which is ranked 28th in the league. The Blackhawks have 28 total points this season, ranking 30th in the NHL in offense. They are 18th in the league with 101 goals while they've given up 136 goals, which is 1st overall. They have had 108 power play opportunities and scored 13 goals on those chances for a percentage of 12%. That is 30th in the NHL.

Useful Team Statistics

As a team, the Stars are 26th with 94 goals scored while they are 28th in the NHL with 93 goals allowed this year. They average 30 shots per contest and have a team shooting percentage of 9.30%. They give up 31 shots per game and have a save percentage of 91%, putting them in 9th place in the league. The Stars have a total of 37 points this year, which is 17th in the NHL. They have 19 power play goals on 90 opportunities for a percentage of 21%. That ranks their power play unit 14th. They've allowed 106 power play opportunities and have given up 18 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 83%, which is 7th overall.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 15th in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 50.3%, as they've attempted 2,128 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,106 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage is 48.5% as they have 1,561 attempts while they have given up 1,658 shots on the defensive end. That ranks them 24th in the league. The Blackhawks start possessions in the offensive zone 52.7% of the time, which is 10th in the league, while their defensive zone percentage is at 47.3% for the season. That is 22nd overall in the NHL. They have 1,040 face-off wins compared to 1,038 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 50%. That ranks them 15th in the league. On defense Chicago has 572 hits and they have blocked 448 shots from the opposition, putting them 25th overall.

Advanced Statistics

The Stars are 30th in the league in starting possessions in the offensive zone, doing so 45.9% of the time. Their defensive zone percentage is at 54.1% for the season, which is 2nd in the NHL. They have 1,053 face-off wins compared to 987 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 51.6%. That is 9th in the league. On defense Dallas has 764 hits and they have blocked 520 shots from the opposition, which is 6th in the league. Dallas is 26th in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 46.7% as they've attempted 1,763 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,009 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage of 47.2% ranks 25th as they have 1,333 attempts while they have given up 1,489 shots on the defensive end.

Who will win tonight's Blackhawks/Stars NHL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Dallas -175

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