by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 17, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Where to watch: BSWIX, BSN, BSSW
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
FanDuel: Even
BetMGM: Even
Caesars: Even
Season record
Stars: 30-14-11
Wild: 28-21-5
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Stars - Wild preview, prediction and analysis
The Dallas Stars will be playing the Minnesota Wild on Friday, February 17 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The Dallas Stars lost against the Boston Bruins last Tuesday, February 14 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The Dallas Stars currently rank 1st in the Central Division.
Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist, Joe Pavelski had two assists, and Jake Oettinger made 34 saves for the Stars (30-14-11), who went 3-1-4 on their homestand.
"You want to test yourself against the best in the League, and they're a heck of a team having a historic year, so it's easy to get up for games like this," Oettinger said. "It was a fun game but didn't get the two points."
Boston took a 1-0 lead at 10:33 of the first period. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm circled behind the net, spun and sent a pass back to the right side of the crease to Hall, who scored far side. Roope Hintz tied it 1-1 at 13:11 when he drove to the front of the net and scored five-hole on a backhand for his fourth goal in five games.
"It was a good game. They are as advertised," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "Really good team. Heavy, hard team, tough defense, good goaltending, so they came as advertised. I thought we stood around and watched a little bit in the first period, and thankfully [Oettinger] played the way he did and let us get through that first 20 minutes. Then we jumped into the battle, and I thought we were pretty good the next two periods."
Robertson gave Dallas a 2-1 lead at 4:17 of the second period when Pavelski found him driving to the net for a shot from the bottom of the left circle.
"[Oettinger] was phenomenal. We won a lot of draws, drew a lot of penalties," Robertson said. "But at the end of the day, special teams wasn't good enough, and it hasn't been lately. It doesn't feel great, especially when you go 0-for-4 on the power play. Definitely let our team down."
The Dallas Stars have won four of their last 10 games.
The Minnesota Wild lost against the Colorado Avalanche last Wednesday, February 15 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a score of 3-2. The Minnesota Wild currently rank 4th in the Central Division.
Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov scored, and Mats Zuccarello had two assists for the Wild (28-21-5), who have lost five of six (1-4-1). Marc-Andre Fleury made 16 saves.
''We played great. We didn't get a reward,'' Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. ''Obviously, it's a results league and we're [ticked] off that we didn't get two points. How do you not feel good about the way you played, right? Yeah, we're frustrated with the end result and they'll be very mad and disappointed, which is great. They'll come back hungry and ready to go (against the Dallas Stars on Friday).''
Eriksson Ek cut Colorado’s lead to 2-1 at 7:09 on a power play, redirecting Zuccarello's shot.
"We played good, but it doesn't really matter when the outcome is losing," Eriksson Ek said.
Fleury allowed two goals on four shots in the second.
"'Flower's' been fantastic too, right? Flower's been fantastic too, let's not forget," Evason said of Fleury. "Of course, he's frustrated. Of course. If you talk to him and he perceives a bad goal, he's accountable."
Kaprizov scored at 14:07 of the third period with a backhand from the left circle for the 3-2 final.
The Minnesota Wild have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
You'd like to think the Stars are ready to bounce back. Minnesota is also struggling heavily right now. Stars 5, Wild 3
The Dallas Stars lost against the Boston Bruins last Tuesday, February 14 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The Dallas Stars currently rank 1st in the Central Division.
Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist, Joe Pavelski had two assists, and Jake Oettinger made 34 saves for the Stars (30-14-11), who went 3-1-4 on their homestand.
"You want to test yourself against the best in the League, and they're a heck of a team having a historic year, so it's easy to get up for games like this," Oettinger said. "It was a fun game but didn't get the two points."
Boston took a 1-0 lead at 10:33 of the first period. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm circled behind the net, spun and sent a pass back to the right side of the crease to Hall, who scored far side. Roope Hintz tied it 1-1 at 13:11 when he drove to the front of the net and scored five-hole on a backhand for his fourth goal in five games.
"It was a good game. They are as advertised," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "Really good team. Heavy, hard team, tough defense, good goaltending, so they came as advertised. I thought we stood around and watched a little bit in the first period, and thankfully [Oettinger] played the way he did and let us get through that first 20 minutes. Then we jumped into the battle, and I thought we were pretty good the next two periods."
Robertson gave Dallas a 2-1 lead at 4:17 of the second period when Pavelski found him driving to the net for a shot from the bottom of the left circle.
"[Oettinger] was phenomenal. We won a lot of draws, drew a lot of penalties," Robertson said. "But at the end of the day, special teams wasn't good enough, and it hasn't been lately. It doesn't feel great, especially when you go 0-for-4 on the power play. Definitely let our team down."
The Dallas Stars have won four of their last 10 games.
The Minnesota Wild lost against the Colorado Avalanche last Wednesday, February 15 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a score of 3-2. The Minnesota Wild currently rank 4th in the Central Division.
Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov scored, and Mats Zuccarello had two assists for the Wild (28-21-5), who have lost five of six (1-4-1). Marc-Andre Fleury made 16 saves.
''We played great. We didn't get a reward,'' Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. ''Obviously, it's a results league and we're [ticked] off that we didn't get two points. How do you not feel good about the way you played, right? Yeah, we're frustrated with the end result and they'll be very mad and disappointed, which is great. They'll come back hungry and ready to go (against the Dallas Stars on Friday).''
Eriksson Ek cut Colorado’s lead to 2-1 at 7:09 on a power play, redirecting Zuccarello's shot.
"We played good, but it doesn't really matter when the outcome is losing," Eriksson Ek said.
Fleury allowed two goals on four shots in the second.
"'Flower's' been fantastic too, right? Flower's been fantastic too, let's not forget," Evason said of Fleury. "Of course, he's frustrated. Of course. If you talk to him and he perceives a bad goal, he's accountable."
Kaprizov scored at 14:07 of the third period with a backhand from the left circle for the 3-2 final.
The Minnesota Wild have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
You'd like to think the Stars are ready to bounce back. Minnesota is also struggling heavily right now. Stars 5, Wild 3
Betting trends
Stars are 10-5 against division opponents this season.
Stars are 3-9 after 3 straight unders this season.
Wild are 63-43 after a division game the last 3 seasons.
Projected lines
Stars:
Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski
Mason Marchment -- Radek Faksa -- Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn -- Wyatt Johnston -- Ty Dellandrea
Marian Studenic -- Luke Glendening -- Denis Gurianov
Miro Heiskanen -- Colin Miller
Ryan Suter -- Nils Lundkvist
Esa Lindell -- Jani Hakanpaa
Jake Oettinger
Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski
Mason Marchment -- Radek Faksa -- Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn -- Wyatt Johnston -- Ty Dellandrea
Marian Studenic -- Luke Glendening -- Denis Gurianov
Miro Heiskanen -- Colin Miller
Ryan Suter -- Nils Lundkvist
Esa Lindell -- Jani Hakanpaa
Jake Oettinger
Wild:
Kirill Kaprizov -- Ryan Hartman -- Mats Zuccarello
Brandon Duhaime -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Matt Boldy
Jordan Greenway -- Sam Steel -- Frederick Gaudreau
Connor Dewar -- Mason Shaw -- Ryan Reaves
Jake Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Matt Dumba
Jon Merrill -- Alex Goligoski
Marc-Andre Fleury
Kirill Kaprizov -- Ryan Hartman -- Mats Zuccarello
Brandon Duhaime -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Matt Boldy
Jordan Greenway -- Sam Steel -- Frederick Gaudreau
Connor Dewar -- Mason Shaw -- Ryan Reaves
Jake Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Matt Dumba
Jon Merrill -- Alex Goligoski
Marc-Andre Fleury
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Dallas Stars - Minnesota Wild prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
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.
