The Utah Hockey Club hosts the Dallas Stars at the Delta Center on Monday, December 2, and it’s a tough schedule spot for the visitors.
Dallas will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back set with travel for the third time in four nights. As a result, our top Stars vs. Utah Hockey Club predictions expect the home squad to pull off the upset in a low-scoring game.
Read on for our NHL picks ahead of tonight's 9 p.m. ET puck drop.
Stars vs Utah Hockey Club prediction
My best bet
Utah moneyline (+120 at Pinnacle)
My analysis
The Utah Hockey Club has received excellent goaltending from Karel Vejmelka while also showing improved 5-on-5 play.
In fact, Utah has been better than the Dallas Stars in several telling 5-on-5 metrics.
| 5-on-5 | Stars | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Corsi For percentage | 53.1% (sixth) | 54% (fourth) |
| Goals against per 60 | 2.14 (ninth) | 2.11 (seventh) |
| Expected goals for percentage | 52.2% (10th) | 52.5 (seventh) |
| Team save percentage | .919 (13th) | .921 (11th) |
Additionally, Dallas is likely to turn to backup Casey DeSmith after No. 1 Jake Oettinger started Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. DeSmith sports a discouraging .891 save percentage with -0.45 goals saved above average per 60 minutes, while Vejmelka ranks sixth among regular goalies with a .917 save percentage and 0.50 GSAA/60.
Vejmelka has surrendered two goals or fewer in six of 12 starts and only four or more twice, too.
With the Stars playing the second leg of a back-to-back set with travel and sporting a ho-hum 5-6 road record, this is a sneaky spot to take a flier on the home underdog tonight.
Stars vs Hockey Club same-game parlay (SGP)
Utah moneyline
Under 6.5
Mikhail Sergachev Under 0.5 points
Both Dallas and Utah have trended to the Under, and the Stars are allowing the fourth-fewest goals per game, while the Club has a rolling goalie between the pipes.
Vejmelka ranks sixth among regular goalies with a .917 save percentage and 0.50 GSAA/60, and goals will be few and far between with Dallas playing its second game in consecutive nights and looking to pay extra attention to defensive detail in front of a backup.
This is also a good spot to fade Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.
He’s been on the ice for 12 goals but just 5.56 expected goals with an unsustainably high 20.7 team shooting percentage in the past five games. Look for statistical correction to kick in against the stingy Dallas defense.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Stars vs Hockey Club odds
Stars vs Hockey Club live odds
Stars vs Hockey Club opening odds
- Puck line: Dallas -1.5 (+170) | Utah +1.5 (-205)
- Moneyline: Dallas -140 | Utah +120
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)
Stars vs Hockey Club trend
DeSmith has lost each of his past three starts, including consecutive games as a favorite (-218 against the Chicago Blackhawks and -426 against the Anaheim Ducks). Find more NHL betting trends for Stars vs. Hockey Club.
How to watch Stars vs Hockey Club
| Location: | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT |
| Date: | Monday, 12-2-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Utah16, Victory+ |
Stars vs Hockey Club latest injuries
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