Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Predicting the winner of this matchup seems straightforward. The more intriguing question is whether it will be another low-scoring game, like the ones both teams played recently.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars have kept clean sheets in their last two games. This time, newcomer Casey DeSmith was in goal, turning away 25 shots from the Seattle Kraken, who conceded twice within 13 seconds in the first period. The Stars average three goals per game, doing so with minimal contributions from their power play—just one goal out of nine opportunities. Imagine how formidable they’ll be when they start capitalising on weaker teams more effectively—they could become nearly unstoppable.
San Jose Sharks
Macklin Celebrini's absence in the game against the Anaheim Ducks immediately dropped the Sharks' productivity to zero. It's not just about him, but scoring from just two shots against the St. Louis Blues is telling. Veteran Mikael Granlund stepped into centre the top line for the newcomer, but his five shots on goal yielded no results. Additionally, five sending-offs during the game hindered their time on attack. However, the Sharks have remained perfect on the penalty kill, one of four teams maintaining a 100% record.
Dallas Stars vs San Jose Sharks Prediction
Over the past two seasons, in five of their six meetings, one team managed to score at least five goals, with the total over 6.5 coming through just as often. Despite Macklin Celebrini's absence, it won't impact the overall scoring potential. The Dallas Stars should at least make their power play count once. Expect a high-scoring game.
