PREMIUM
GAME OF THE WEEK (Rogers' 10* NHL) >> 4 STRAIGHT WINNING DAYS!
(NHL) Calgary vs. Dallas,
Money Line: -145.00 Dallas (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -145.00 Dallas (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 35-23-4 Dallas Stars are currently holding down the No. 1 wildcard playoff slot in the Western Conference with 74 points and the 32-22-9 Calgary Flames are one point behind them with 73. Neither team felt compelled to make a major move at Monday's trade deadline and Dallas will continue its five-game homestand (began it with a Saturday loss to Winnipeg) with tonight's game against the Flames. The Stars are 21-10-1 at home but the Flames are a strong road team, checking in at 18-8-5 away from home this season.
Calgary: The Flames did make a pair of minor moves at the deadline, acquiring center Nick Shore from Ottawa and claiming forward Chris Stewart from Minnesota. Shore barely got time to get settled in Ottawa, playing in only six games after he was part of a four-player deal with Los Angeles but he is strong on the penalty kill. Stewart provides a physical presence and has scored at least 15 goals five times, including a career-best 28 in 2009-10. Calgary has won two straight games, including a 5-1 win over Colorado on Saturday at home. I noted Calgary's strong road record at the top and the team's excellent play will be tested here, as the Flames begin a stretch of five of their next six games away from home.
Dallas: Tyler Seguin has scored eight times in February after netting one goal and setting up another in Saturday's 5-3 home loss to Winnipeg. Seguin leads the Stars with 31 goals and is second with 54 points , two behind Alexander Radulov, who has scored in back-to-back games to give him 23 goals. Goalie Kari Lehtonen was yanked Saturday after yielding four second-period goals and Bishop (24-20-4, 2.53 GAA & .915 SP) could be in goal tonight
The pick: Then again, Lehtonen improved to 12-7-2 against Calgary with a 30-save performance in Calgary back on Oct. 27 (Dallas won 2-1). Either way, I'll stick with Dallas. The Stars have won both meetings this season versus Calgary, including a 6-4 home win on Nov. 24, when Seguin registered a hat trick in the come-from-behind victory. Make Dallas a 10* play.
Calgary: The Flames did make a pair of minor moves at the deadline, acquiring center Nick Shore from Ottawa and claiming forward Chris Stewart from Minnesota. Shore barely got time to get settled in Ottawa, playing in only six games after he was part of a four-player deal with Los Angeles but he is strong on the penalty kill. Stewart provides a physical presence and has scored at least 15 goals five times, including a career-best 28 in 2009-10. Calgary has won two straight games, including a 5-1 win over Colorado on Saturday at home. I noted Calgary's strong road record at the top and the team's excellent play will be tested here, as the Flames begin a stretch of five of their next six games away from home.
Dallas: Tyler Seguin has scored eight times in February after netting one goal and setting up another in Saturday's 5-3 home loss to Winnipeg. Seguin leads the Stars with 31 goals and is second with 54 points , two behind Alexander Radulov, who has scored in back-to-back games to give him 23 goals. Goalie Kari Lehtonen was yanked Saturday after yielding four second-period goals and Bishop (24-20-4, 2.53 GAA & .915 SP) could be in goal tonight
The pick: Then again, Lehtonen improved to 12-7-2 against Calgary with a 30-save performance in Calgary back on Oct. 27 (Dallas won 2-1). Either way, I'll stick with Dallas. The Stars have won both meetings this season versus Calgary, including a 6-4 home win on Nov. 24, when Seguin registered a hat trick in the come-from-behind victory. Make Dallas a 10* play.
