Offense meets defense at American Airlines Center on Saturday as the high-volume shooting New York Rangers (3-3-2) are on the road to face the suffocating goaltending of the Dallas Stars (5-2-1). New York is coming off a 3-0 loss against the Islanders on Wednesday, their fourth consecutive defeat.
Jaroslav Halak only had 26 saves on 29 shots against (.896%) in the loss. Dallas beat the Capitals 2-0 on Thursday. Jason Robertson and Joel Kiviranta each scored once for the Stars. Jake Oettinger recorded his first shutout of the season with 27 saves.
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 7-4 victory for the Rangers in March. Artemi Panarin led New York with five points (1G 4A). Esa Lindell (1G 1A), John Klingberg (0G 2A), and Roope Hintz (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Dallas. Igor Shesterkin got the win despite allowing four goals on 33 shots (.878%).
FACING OFF
New York is averaging 2.75 goals per game so far this season, 25th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Stars team that is allowing only 1.88 goals a game (1st). Meanwhile, Dallas has found the net 3.12 times a game on average, 18th in the league, and the Rangers are allowing opponents to score 3.12 goals per game (16th).
New York averages more shots per game (37.4) than most teams in the league, ranking third, though the team’s 7.4% shooting percentage is 31st. Dallas has been up to the task of stopping shots, ranking No. 1 with a team save percentage of .944%. The Stars’ 23.08% power play percentage ranks 13th in the league, while the Rangers are 19th with a conversion rate of 20.00%. In terms of defending power plays, Dallas has the league’s sixth-ranked PK% at 89.47%, while New York is 15th at 79.17%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 12 points this season, fifth-most in the NHL, Panarin is the top skater for the Rangers. He is among the league leaders with eight assists (5th) and has added four goals of his own. In the net, Shesterkin (3-0-2) is New York’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.57 GAA and a .916% save percentage. Robertson and Hintz lead the Stars in scoring with eight points apiece. Robertson has three goals and five assists in eight games, while Hintz has two goals and six assists.
Oettinger (5-1-0) has the best goals against average for Dallas at 1.17, best in the league. He has a save percentage of .960%, also best.
HOME AND AWAY
New York is 1-2-0 away from Madison Square Garden this season. Dallas is looking to remain undefeated at American Airlines Center this season in three games.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Dallas Stars (-125)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
