Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Dallas Stars are one of the teams that have played the fewest games this season—just 13. Perhaps this explains why they currently sit no higher than seventh in their conference. They will be challenged by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have finally returned to their home ice. Or is it the Penguins who will be tested?
Pittsburgh Penguins
At least they've passed the Washington Capitals' test. The 4:2 result was crafted by their top two lines in various combinations, with the winning goal scored by Evgeni Malkin, who leads the club in points (18). The Penguins have won three of their last five games, losing another in a shootout. Their only notable defeat came against the Carolina Hurricanes (1:5) when the top two forward lines failed to deliver.
Dallas Stars
The Stars currently edge into the playoffs through a wild-card spot, not just due to the number of games but also because their performances haven't lived up to expectations. In November, they played four games, winning only one, and scored just one power-play goal out of 14 attempts. Their power play has significantly faltered (16.3%, ranking 23rd), which is even worse than the Penguins' power play (19.6%, ranking 15th). It's possible to attribute their struggles to two games played against the Stanley Cup holders in Europe and a recent matchup against the season's frontrunner the Winnipeg Jets, who have won 13 of 14 games. However, the Stars were the conference winners last season and cannot afford any excuses.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Dallas Stars Prediction
The Pittsburgh Penguins need to come up with something special on their home ice. They're playing well, while the Dallas Stars are not particularly resilient. Consider also that in the last five meetings in Pennsylvania, the Penguins have not lost in regulation time to the Stars in four of them. Therefore, a double chance on the hosts seems like a realistic bet.
