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Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks NHL Gambling Prediction & Lines

Stars vs Ducks Hockey Betting?

Two of the more offensively gifted teams in the NHL do battle in what should be a wide open first round playoff series that kicks off in Anaheim Wednesday night.

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Dallas (40-31-6-5) at Anaheim (54-20-2-6)
When: 10:00 PM ET, Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Broadcast: TSN, RDS (JIP), NBCSN, FS-SW, FS-W
Stars vs. Ducks Betting Lines
Dallas Stars +1½ -205 +149 Ov 5½ +116
Anaheim Ducks -1½ +175 -164 Un 5½ -128
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Matchup | *Insiders* Preview

The Dallas Stars qualified for the playoffs Friday – they played hard for the better part of a month just to get into the playoffs so they are battle tested as we enter Game 1. The Ducks too have had something to play for down the stretch – the President’s Trophy was within their reach up until the last week of the season – they too had their foot on the gas up until the last game. Dallas took two of the three games between the teams this year – they represent the style of game that has given the Duck fits all season long.

The Dallas Stars have nothing to lose – they enter Game 1 with nothing to lose against a team that is supposed to walk through them. But Dallas is healthy and somewhat rested ahead of the opening game. The Stars will score some goals Monday night – the question is whether or not they can score enough to keep up with the Ducks.

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The combination of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn were among the elite duos in the NHL this year – a handful for everyone that they played. Seguin had 84 points on the season while Benn had 79. But beyond that, the offense was simply average. We all know that these two will be the focus of Anaheim’s shut-down forward line and their best defensive pairing – it is up to Seguin and Benn to raise the level of their games. Seguin has a history of disappearing in the playoffs as well – something he hopes to shake in Game 1 of Round 1.

Kari Lehtonen will be tasked with holding the Ducks’ offense in check – no easy task for anyone. He steadily improved as the season wore on but he could be exposed with an average defense in front of him. The Stars allowed an average of 2.72 goals per game this season and with no big names on the back end, it is hard to imagine the Ducks potent offense not doing some damage Wednesday night.
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The Anaheim Ducks will be out to make a statement Wednesday night – that they won’t go out in the first round like they did last year. The Ducks’ late season collapse last year is a thing of the past – they went 9-2-1 in their last 12 games this year and are all systems go for Wednesday night.

The Ducks were tops in the NHL offensively this season – 3.21 goals per game and they have the pleasure of facing an average defense in Game 1. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Kyle Palmieri, Matt Beleskey, Patrick Maroon, Jakob Silfverberg, Emerson Etem, Nick Bonino, Saku Koivu, Matthieu Perreault, Andrew Cogliano and Teemu Selanne are an impressive forward group – too much to handle for the Stars in this one.

The Ducks, like the Stars have an OK defense but they haven’t had to be great because of the superb offense the team possesses. Their task is simple – shut down Seguin and Benn and watch the Stars struggle to keep up.

Dave’s FREE NHL Betting Prediction

A few trends to consider:
• DAL are 13-5 in their last 18 vs. Pacific.
• Over is 17-7-2 in DAL last 26 Wed. games.
• DAL are 6-14 in their last 20 road games.
• Over is 7-3 in ANA last 10 overall.
• Over is 7-3 in ANA last 10 vs. Western Conference.
• ANA are 36-16 in their last 52 overall.
• Over is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings in Anaheim.

The Dallas Stars were 17-20-7 on the road this season while the Ducks, outside of a five game stretch on home ice where they couldn’t buy a win, were virtually unbeatable at the Honda Center finishing 29-8-4. The Ducks have a statement to make – the Stars are merely an obstacle in their way. Take the home team to shine and definitely look at the over in what should be a high scoring game.

Pick: Over 5 1/2 goals is the play here – two of the three games in the season series ended up 6-3!

By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.