Offense meets defense at American Airlines Center on Wednesday as the high-volume shooting Carolina Hurricanes (29-9-8) head to take on the suffocating goaltending of the Dallas Stars (28-13-8).
Carolina is coming off a 5-2 win over the Islanders on Saturday. Sebastian Aho led the Hurricanes with a hat trick. Frederik Andersen saved an impressive 29 of 31 shots (.935%) in the win.
Dallas fell 3-2 (OT) to the Sabres on Monday. Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn each scored once for the Stars. Joe Pavelski had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Jake Oettinger only had 22 saves on 25 shots against (.880%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Hurricanes won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-4 (OT) victory in December. Four players had two points for Carolina. Robertson led Dallas with three points (0G 3A). Antti Raanta got the win despite saving only 26 of 30 shots (.866%).
FACING OFF
Carolina is averaging 3.22 goals per game for the season, 12th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Stars team that is allowing only 2.55 goals a game (2nd). Meanwhile, Dallas has found the net 3.43 times a game on average, seventh in the league, and the Hurricanes are allowing opponents to score 2.65 goals per game (7th).
Carolina averages more shots a game (35.4) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 9.3% shooting percentage ranks 25th. Dallas has proven up to the task of stopping shots, ranking No. 2 with a team save percentage of .921%.
The Stars’ 26.21% power play percentage is the fifth-best in the league, while the Hurricanes rank 25th with a conversion rate of 18.40%. Dallas has been equally successful at penalty killing, boasting the league’s third-highest PK% at 83.64%. Carolina ranks 11th at 80.75%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 41 and 40 points this season, Martin Necas and Aho have been the top skaters for the Hurricanes. In the net, Pyotr Kochetkov (10-4-5) is Carolina’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.33 GAA and a .913% save percentage.
Robertson leads the Stars in scoring with 65 points (5th in the league). He has 32 goals (5th in the league) and 33 assists. Oettinger (21-7-4) has the best goals against average for Dallas at 2.20, second-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .926%, also second-best.
HOME AND AWAY
Carolina is 15-4-6 away from home this season. Dallas is 13-5-4 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Carolina Hurricanes (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
