by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Dec 06, 2021
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Where to watch: Bally Sports Dallas, Bally Sports Arizona+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Stars -340, Coyotes +265
BetMGM: Stars -333, Coyotes +260
Caesars: Stars -345, Coyotes +270
Season record
Coyotes: 5-17-2 (Last place, Central Division)
Stars: 12-7-2 (6th place, Central Division)
Al McMordie is back in the rink on Monday, as he looks to bounce back off Sunday's 2-4 day. Big Al passed in hockey yesterday, while going 2-1 in the NFL, but 0-3 in hoops. Now, for Monday, pick up Big Al's NHL Division Game of the Week out of a super 73% situation. Catch Al’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Coyotes - Stars preview and analysis
Recent form
Coyotes: lost two straight; lost 7-1 vs. Golden Knights on Friday
Stars: won six straight; won 3-2 vs. Blue Jackets on Thursday
Don't look now, but here come the Dallas Stars with a prime opportunity to push their win streak to seven games against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.
Dallas' overall game has come alive in the past six, holding opponents to two goals or fewer in each game. Dallas, meanwhile, has found the scoring touch since Nov. 20. averaging 3.5 goals per game.
"Just got back to our style, which is our forecheck," Stars forward Tyler Seguin said. "We all know how we defend. Started winning a lot more puck battles and started competing, and really had a five-man unit out there. Once that happened, I thought the game was ours."
The Stars have gotten things together since that 7-2 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 18, but even dating back the two games prior, the Stars put up five goals apiece against the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.
It's a balanced offensive attack Dallas has put together, and that doesn't bode well for a Coyotes team that has lost four of five and has been held to two goals or less the previous four; including only one goal in a 7-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.
"It's frustrating," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. "We take a lot of pride in being tough to play against, you've got to work hard against us. But when you get beat up the ice, when you give us odd-man rushes, it's a dream for an offensive player."
The Coyotes have lost four straight following a home loss of three goals or more, which feels like more of an occurrence this year than it should be. Arizona has shown some competitive nature in some of these games and have gotten great goaltending (before Friday) from rookie Karel Vejmelka.
Prediction
The favorite is 22-5 in the last 27 games and that trend will continue. This could be an enticing under, considering it's 9-1 in the Coyotes' last 10 as a road dog, but I trust the Stars' goaltending to get a win at home and keep that winning streak alive. Stars win 4-1
Betting trends
The Coyotes are 1-9 ATS after an over this season.
The Coyotes are 1-8 ATS after allowing five goals or more the previous game.
The under has cashed in each game during the Stars’ winning streak.
The home team is 20-7 in the last 27 matchups.
Projected lines
Coyotes:
Clayton Keller -- Travis Boyd -- Phil Kessel
Lawson Crouse -- Barrett Hayton -- Christian Fischer
Antoine Roussel -- Ryan Dzingel -- Loui Eriksson
Liam O'Brien -- Alex Galchenyuk -- Andrew Ladd
Jakob Chychrun -- Kyle Capobianco
Shayne Gostisbehere -- Dysin Mayo
Ilya Lyubushkin -- Anton Stralman
Scott Wedgewood
Stars:
Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski
Jacob Peterson -- Jamie Benn -- Alexander Radulov
Tanner Kero -- Radek Faksa -- Tyler Seguin
Joel Kiviranta -- Luke Glendening -- Denis Gurianov
Ryan Suter -- John Klingberg
Esa Lindell -- Miro Heiskanen
Andrej Sekera -- Jani Hakanpaa
Braden Holtby
Key injuries
Coyotes: Jay Beagle (lower body), Carter Hutton (lower body), Johan Larsson (lower body), Nick Schmaltz (upper body)
Stars: None
Statistical leaders
Coyotes:
Points: Clayton Keller, Shayne Gostisbehere – 16
Goals: Clayton Keller, Travis Boyd – 6
Assists: Shayne Gostisbehere – 13
TOI: Jakob Chychrun – 25:09
Goalie: Scott Wedgewood – 3-4-1, 2.75 GAA, .921 SV%
Stars:
Points: Joe Pavelski – 19 points
Goals: Roope Hintz – 10 goals
Assists: Joe Pavelski – 12 assists
TOI: Miro Heiskanen – 24:43
Goalie: Jake Oettinger – 5-0-0, 1.41 GAA, .951 SV%
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
