Dallas Stars vs Florida Panthers

These teams met in Finland last night in a 6-4 Florida victory. Dallas is a great defensive team but was out of whack yesterday, allowing a goal just 28 seconds into the game. They also gave up a shorthanded goal and went 0-for-3 on power play chances. Dallas is second in the NHL in goals allowed (2.30 per game) and third in save percentage (.922). The Stars are on a 27-12-2 run UNDER the total. Defending champion Florida is ninth in power-play goals allowed and fourth in penalty kill percentage. Look for both talented defenses to play far better than yesterday. Take Dallas/Florida UNDER the total. 

An East/West showdown of solid teams this afternoon. Defending champion Florida has moved up to 15th in goals allowed after winning three in a row, allowing a total of seven goals. Dallas is No. 1 in the NHL defensively in goals allowed (1.89 per game) and in save percentage (.937), plus fourth in shots on goal allowed. Dallas is on a 27-11-2 run UNDER the total, including 7-1 UNDER at home. Take Florida/Dallas UNDER the total. 

Florida won the only meeting this season 5-4 on Dec. 6 and the Panthers have won seven of their past eight games, including 5-1 over Calgary on Saturday. Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist three days after Florida acquired him from Ottawa and Anthony Stolarz stopped 34 of 35 shots for the Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky is confirmed for tonight's game and he is 31-12-2 and he is #2 in the NHL with a 2.29 goals-against average and #5 with a .918 save percentage. Dallas is playing its first home game following a three-game road trip and the Stars are on a five-game win streak. Florida has won 23 of 33 on the road this season and the Panthers have not allowed more than three goals their past 20 games since Jan. 19. Take the Panthers - Max Play. 

Dallas plays its fourth road game over the last five contests. They come off a 4-0 loss at Tampa Bay as a favorite and have lost five of eight. They were favored in all five of those defeats. Dallas is 20-28 versus teams that outscore their opponents by 0.3+ goals per game. While Dallas is working on one day of rest, Florida has had three days off. Florida has won seven of its 11 home contests. This is their second straight home game, so back the rested home team. Play Florida. 

Florida is a .500 team and plays the second of a four-game road trip. Florida is 22nd in the NHL in goals allowed and shots on goal given up, plus 19th in save percentage. Florida is 5-11 in non-conference action, plus 5-11 after scoring 3 goals or more in back-to-back contests. Meanwhile, Dallas is Top 10 in goals allowed and save percentage, while the offense is Top 10 in goals scored. Dallas is working on three days of rest and has won seven of 11. They're also 290-211 off of a road loss, including 171-122 off a road loss by two goals or more. And the Stars are 2-0-1 in the past three home meetings versus Florida, so back the rested home team. Play Dallas.