Let's talk about the Dallas Stars as they prepare to again invade The Fortress for Game 4

Four months into their successful season, the Stars hit a rough patch in the second half of February in which they lost 6 out of 7 games, including dropping 4 out of 5 on the road. On Saturday, March 2nd, they continued scuffling at home as massively overpriced -600 favorites over the lowly Sharks. The Stars actually had to rally to tie this game in the 3rd period before eventually defeating the Sharks in a shooout. In their next game three days later, they visited San Jose for a rematch. Playing as if no lessons had been learned from a few days earlier, the Stars again fell behind the Sharks by a score of 2-0. They rallied to tie, but the Sharks scored again to go up 3-2. The Stars again tied the score but then fell behind again, and this time they dug a very deep hole. Early in the 3rd period, the Sharks scored their third consecutive goal to take a 6-3 lead over the Stars who were again massively overpriced that night at -430. The Stars scored a goal with 7 minutes left, and just 43 seconds later, the great rookie Wyatt Johnston scored to make it 6-5. Exactly two minutes later, Johnston completed his first career hat trick and made it 6-6. By this point the energized Stars were not to be denied, and they won the game in overtime 7-6.

It appears that stirring comeback, which spared the team from a very embarrassing defeat, snapped them out of their 3-week malaise. For the rest of the regular season, the Stars were straight killers on the road. From San Jose they flew to Anaheim and won 6-2. The next night they beat the Kings in L.A. 4-1. Following a 5-game homestand, they did this...

...won at Arizona 4-2

...won at San Jose 6-3

...won at Vancouver 3-1

...won at Seattle 3-0

The Stars, beginning with that late comeback in San Jose on March 5th, have won 9 of their last 10 road games. Yes, they did drop one game, and it was a major surprise, but not to those of us who watch the Covers NHL forum closely. On the afternoon of Saturday, April 6th, the Stars visited the lowly Blackhawks as massive -360 favorites, and they actually lost that game by a score of 3-2. The hockey world could make NO sense of that outcome, but around here we definitely saw it coming when at 12:17pm ET, our beloved Covers brother magiccarpetride posted the following...

Dallas ML

Yes, I will gladly drink the juice.

Blackhawks are done for the season. It's over for them.  Just practice and nothing else for them. Bring in the young kids and have them skate for awhile. 

Good luck to all. 

So that explains that. It was okay, though, because the very next night the Stars regrouped by closing out their regular season road schedule with a very impressive 7-4 win against the Avalanche in Denver.

The Stars and their fans were reeling after losing both home games of this Round 1 series to the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights, but it came as no surprise to see the Stars win Game 3 on the road. I foresee yet another road win tonight, and this time I don't expect an overtime squeaker. Eight of their last 9 road wins have been by more than one goal, and I expect them to not only win again, but cover the -1.5 puckline, too.

@MrBator

 Outstanding write-up.  Wanted to pull the trigger on the Stars but wasn’t loving the juice.  

Great last mention with the recent road wins record by more than a goal.  

@MrBator

I appreciate your insight.

GL tonight

Bol tonight Mr. Bator. 

Keep in mind however that the postseason is an altogether different animal and the Vegas Knights are a tough opponent. By the same token, it does make me wonder why the visitors are favored in this scenario.

Good luck sir thank you for the insight.

Bator: “Blackhawks are done for the season. It's over for them”

They aren’t playing the Blackhawks ?

Great write up 

i came looking for a play and I found one

i am dense though blackhawks?

Great write up 

i came looking for a play and I found one

i am dense though blackhawks?

@ActionMagnet

 Disregard previous post . Good luck Bator 

Yes, you are dense. Please try reading my post again.

You, too.

@MrBator

 I’m more interested in whether you could beat my -115 and -1.5 +220

I bow to your line superiority. I could only match your puckline.

@MrBator

 Correct me please bcuz I’m just a follower that creeps in to get solid info especially from u MrBator I appreciate u and there’s a few other great cappers on here I love to get info from! But as I look at this the teams u mention whom Dallas beat r not exactly world beaters but I get the idea… Thank u for ur work it’s always very much appreciated!

have to go against you on this one, sir @MrBator.

VGK came out slow at home in that last game... i liked the push back to send it to OT.

VGK have won 6 of the last 7 against DAL, outscoring them 26 to 11, and the seem like the grittier team to me here.

i expect a big game from VGK tonight...

we shall see!

Mr. B what's up my man...

Excellent scripture my good sir....couldn't agree more in the play

@MrBator

 I remember reading that post like it was yesterday.  Not sure that's a good thing.  You Rock!  Thanks!

I actually watched that game closely (it's hard to watch anything closely when you're in a sportsbook trying to keep tabs on multiple events), and what I saw was not a slow effort early on from the Golden Knights, but rather a buzzsaw 1st period effort from the more desperate visitors. The Stars outshot them 18-7.

@MrBator

absolutely.. they came out super desperate. they had to!

I’m on the Stars -120 and -1.5 +220 for equal amounts.

Well I read the rest of your post, guess I should have earlier before asking questions lol

tailing the plays BOL 

thanks

I foresee yet another road win tonight, and this time I don't expect an overtime squeaker. Eight of their last 9 road wins have been by more than one goal, and I expect them to not only win again, but cover the -1.5 puckline, too.[/Quote]

I think it is 7 of 8 or 9 if you want to count OT win @SJ.  I don't like it that the game last Saturday is the only game that doesn't look like the other 7 road wins.  Dallas had to come with everything to avoid 3-0 and only won in OT.  Can they match that desperation in BTB games.  Tough for teams to do it.  Wish I had numbers on this situation.  Good Luck!

The Golden Knights beat the Stars 4-3 in Game 1 and then defeated them by two goals in Game 2 when the Stars clearly had more urgency. I think the Stars can do the same to the Cup champs inside The Fortress.