Ottawa Senators vs. Dallas Stars: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/8/2022

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Where to watch: BSMW, RDS, TSN5

DraftKings: Stars -195, Senators +165

FanDuel: Stars -196, Senators +162

BetMGM: Stars -190, Senators +155

Caesars: Stars -196, Senators +162

Senators: 10-14-1

Stars: 14-7-5

The Ottawa Senators have benefitted greatly from an easy schedule the last six games, going 4-2-0 in that run with two overtime wins on the road. Another team right now that you’re not sure what you’re getting, Ottawa has won four of six, but is coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Los Angeles Kings and a goalie by the name of Pheonix Copley. The good news? The over cashed, but not in the way they expected. The Senators have been hot and cold with trying to integrate Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux into the fold, as well as goalie Cam Talbot, but until the Senators can shore things up on defense, they’re going to have to outscore opponents. If they can’t do that, it’s going to be an uphill climb.

 

"Just flat," Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. "Gave up way too many chances, didn't check hard enough. You know, that's on me. Our preparation to start the game starts with me as the coach, and that's certainly unacceptable. My job is to make sure these guys are ready to play."

 

And the more Smith has to get these guys ready to play, it’s going to be a long season or the end of his quick. General manager Pierre Dorion was hoping the moves he made in the offseason would translate to wins. He knows it’s not a finished product, but there was hope within Ottawa circles of making the playoffs. Right now, the Atlantic Division is too stacked to think they have a chance. They’re going to need defense to reign against their opponent Thursday, but considering the under is 6-0 in Ottawa’s last six road games, the odds don’t seem too great.

 

The Dallas Stars have suddenly ran into a problem of beating good teams. They’re 5-2-3 in their last five, so at least they’re getting points. But look at who’ve they lost to: Toronto, Minnesota, Colorado twice, and Winnipeg. Those are playoff teams under any other circumstance. The 4-0 loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday was the latest in a line of head scratchers for the Stars. You’d think the way things were rolling in the beginning, Jason Robertson was running away with the Hart, and Jake Oettinger was running away with the Vezina. Those things can still be true, especially the first one, but they need better outings from their big-game players.

 

"We had, of course, a lot of chances and a lot of power-play time," Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. "We had chances but didn't score. It's a little frustrating, but move on and be better next game.

 

"[The power play] has been working well this season, so we don't get too frustrated if it's not going in, but we had so many chances so it's a little bit frustrating. But that's part of the game. Sometimes it's not going in."

 

Good news for the Stars: They’ve been able to take advantage against inferior teams. The over is 8-1-1 in Dallas’ last 10 against a losing team. If that rings true, you should expect the Stars to get back on the board in this one.

 

The Senators have won the last four meetings, but the home team has taken seven of the last eight. I like the home team to take care of business and get back on track. Stars win 4-2

Senators are 21-22 on the road when the total is 6 or more the last 2 seasons.

Stars are 71-38 off a home loss by 3 goals or more since 1996.

Stars are 31-12 off a home loss where they were shut out since 1996.

Senators:

Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux

Alex DeBrincat -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson

Tyler Motte -- Derick Brassard -- Mathieu Joseph

Parker Kelly -- Mark Kastelic -- Austin Watson

Thomas Chabot -- Nikita Zaitsev

Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic

Erik Brannstrom -- Nick Holden

Cam Talbot

Stars:

Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski

Mason Marchment -- Radek Faksa -- Tyler Seguin

Jamie Benn -- Wyatt Johnston -- Ty Dellandrea

Joel Kiviranta -- Luke Glendening -- Denis Gurianov

Ryan Suter -- Nils Lundkvist

Miro Heiskanen -- Colin Miller

Esa Lindell -- Jani Hakanpaa

Jake Oettinger

Points: Brady Tkachuk -- 29

Goals: Brady Tkachuk -- 12

Assists: Brady Tkachuk -- 17

Goalie: Cam Talbot -- 4-5-0, 2.84 GAA, .907 SV%

Points: Jason Robertson -- 41

Goals: Jason Robertson -- 23

Assists: Roope Hintz -- 19

Goalie: Jake Oettinger -- 9-3-3, 2.54 GAA, .916 SV%