Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars Prediction, 12/21/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars

Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023

Location: American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX

TV: Bally Sports Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Canucks (+123) Stars (-150)

The Dallas Stars (18-8-4) will try to beat the Vancouver Canucks (22-9-2) at American Airlines Center on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Canucks at +123 and the Stars are at -150. The betting total comes in at 7.

The Vancouver Canucks were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 5-2 victory against the Predators in their previous contest . Vancouver accounted for 4 penalty minutes for this contest. The Canucks had a solid offensive performance in the victory. Additionally, they had 3 opportunities with more players on the ice but weren't able to make the most of them. In the game, they converted 5 of the 35 shots they attempted.

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When it comes to their goal scoring prowess, the Vancouver Canucks have notched 125 goals (1st in pro hockey) over the course of the season and have given up 80. For the season, they have tallied 46 points and their points percentage comes in at .697. Vancouver comes into the game with 117 power play chances and they have added 29 goals during those advantages, giving them a rate of 24.79%. While playing at even strength, the Canucks have surrendered 56 goals while earning 96 on the offensive side of the ice. Vancouver has tried 933 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 13.4%. The Canucks so far have had 989 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .919. Vancouver Canucks opponents have recorded 102 power play opportunities (11th in pro hockey) and have come away with 24 goals in those chances.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Thatcher Demko. For his professional hockey career, Demko has compiled 104 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .562. His save percentage is at .912 for his 11,153 minutes in the crease. Demko has had 5,951 shots against him and has recorded 5,425 saves. Opponents have racked up 526 goals against Demko in his career and his goals against rate is 2.83. He has earned an overall record of 97-74-15 and he has gotten the start in 185 games. Demko has been in net for 191 contests throughout his hockey career.

In their last game, Dallas faced off against the Kraken in an outing where the Stars ended up with the win by a final score of 4-3. The Stars scored 4 goals out of the 28 shots on goal they tried. They had 4 power play attempts in this matchup but were not able to net one.

Dallas has put up 883 shots (27th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 11.89%, while allowing the other team 941 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 86.73% on the other teams 98 power play chances, and their save percentage comes in at 90.0%. They have a total of 90 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 23.33%. The Stars have scored 84 goals at even strength and 21 goals (16th in hockey) while on the power play. They have granted a total of 94 goals to be scored by way of 81 goals at even strength and 13 goals while they had less men on the ice. Over the course of the season, the Dallas Stars have a total of 105 goals, 40 points, in addition to a points percentage of .667.

Across the rink you are expected to see Scott Wedgewood defending the goal. He has accounted for 3,015 saves out of 3,322 shots attempted, giving him a percentage of .908. Wedgewood has accrued a career record of 39-42-19 and has been in net for 108 contests. He has been a starter 95 contests and has played for a total of 6,055 mins. Wedgewood's quality start percentage comes out to 48.4% and he has accumulated 46 quality starts in his NHL career. The opposition is averaging 3.04 goals per game and he has yielded 307 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Dallas (-150)

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