Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Capitals vs Stars NHL Odds
Looking for Washington Capitals vs Dallas Stars free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Capitals taking on the Stars on Saturday January 21st at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(22-15-4) Washington Capitals vs. Dallas Stars (29-9-4)
Date: Saturday January 21st
Time: 5:00 PM
Venue: American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds:
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Washington -139
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
Live NHL Odds
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The Washington Capitals find themselves atop of the powerhouse Metro Division after 45 games. The Caps have has strong efforts on the offensive side of the puck of late, racking up 30 goals in their past five games.
For the home team Dallas Stars, the fortunes have not been as good of late.
The Stars are just 3-6 in January and are coming off of a game where they were shutout by the last place team in the Metro, the New York Islanders.
Washington Capitals
With wins in nine of their past ten games, Washington now has the most points of any team in the league on the season. They’ve leapfrogged the Columbus Blue Jackets for the top seat in the Metro, a division that could see five of its teams make the playoffs.
The Capitals have been scoring with ease since the turn of the year, tallying 48 goals in 10 games in 2017. During this time, Braden Holtby has also been stellar and has recorded three shutouts.
On the season, Nicklas Backstrom leads the team with 44 points, 31 of which have come by way of assist to the surprise of no one. Alex Ovechkin may be the best goal scorer in history when it’s all said and done, and he once again leads the Caps in the category with 21 Ginos on the year.
The play of both Matt Niskanen and John Carlson has been strong of late, seeing Niskanen tally four points in his late three games and play a solid all-round game in the process. Not to be outdone, Carlson has seven points of his own in the 10 January contests.
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As mentioned, Holtby has been lights out in 2017, with three shutouts.
He is once again proclaiming that he’s in the conversation for the best goalie in the NHL, carrying Vezina-worthy numbers through the midway point of the season. Holtby owns a 1.99 GAA and a .929 SV% with six shutouts on the year.
Dallas Stars
The Stars have a serious problem in net, and it’s been exposed more so this season with their goal scoring totals coming down from a year ago, when they led the NHL in goals.
Dallas grades out as the 27th overall in goals against, allowing an average of 3.1 per game. The old saying goes “your goaltender should be your best penalty-killer” and, well, the Stars have the 29th ranked PK in the league at just a 75.2% efficiency rate.
GM Jim Nill has to be looking to resolving the problem come trade deadline, but it may be difficult considering his current two goalies account for over $9mm in salary.
Both Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi own a .902 SV% on the season, each having a GAA north of the 2.80 mark.
The bright spot on the blueline has once again been John Klingberg. Though he isn’t on his point pace of a season ago, he still has registered 26 points in 45 games and has little back-end help around him.
He’s stepped up his production of late as well, with four goals and eight points in nine January games.
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Up front, the offense is led by the two-headed monster of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Seguin sits in a tie for eighth in the NHL point race with his 44 on the year, and Benn is just outside of the top-20 with his 38.
After a slow start, Benn has produced at nearly a point-per-game pace since the start of December.
NHL Betting Trends:
- The Capitals lead the NHL in goal differential at plus-48
- Washington is 9-0-1 in their past 10 games
- Washington is 14-5-5 on the road this year
- Each teams’ top scorer, Backstrom and Seguin, has 44 points on the year and are tied for 8th overall in league scoring.
- Dallas are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games
- Dallas is 12-7-4 at home this year
Free Washington Capitals vs Dallas Stars NHL Hockey Prediction:
Washington is the hottest team in the NHL right now, and have registered 30 goals in their past five games. They should have no scoring on the road in Dallas, against the Stars team who have allowed the fourth most goals on average of any team in the league.
Holtby has been incredible in net for the Caps, and whether he, or Philip Grubauer, starts in this game, the Caps will have a decided advantage in net.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Washington -1.5
While in less action, Grubauer has numbers that are similar to Holtby’s season figures, which sees Washington lead the NHL in goals against average at just 2.1.
NHL Free Score Prediction: Washington 5 – Dallas 2
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