Dallas Stars - Nashville Predators
Dec 31,2007 8:30 pm EST

Dallas Stars (23-12-4)

Dallas Stars are known for their defence.
In each of last 4 seasons they were ranked high in defensive stats :
- 2.31 GAA in 06/07 – 4th
- 2.65 GAA in 05/06 – 6th
- 2.13 GAA in 03/04 - 2nd
- 2.06 GAA in 02/03 – 3rd

But in all of those 4 seasons they had a lot problems in offense. Well not any more.

Mike Ribeiro, Brenden Morrow, Mike Modano and Jussi Jokinen are playing very well in this season and that is the main reason why Stars improved the league's 21st-ranked offense (2.65 GPG) from a year ago to 7th.

Injury list :
(LW) Jussi Jokinen (11G, 9A in 38 games)
(D) Philippe Boucher (1G, 10A in 28 games)
(RW) Jere Lehtinen (6G, 13A in 21 games)

Nashville Predators (17-18-2)

One year after setting a franchise record with 110 pts and playing in playoffs, the Nashville Predators are again back at bottom of Central Division.

Few bad movements from managment is not resigning players like (LW) Paul Kariya, (D)Kimmo Timmonen and (G)Tomas Vokuon) and a lot worse play in defence - 3.00 GAA compared with 2.49 GAA from last season - are the reasons why this team is 12th in Western Conference.

Injury list :
(D) Shea Weber (1G, 6A in 15 games)
(D) Ryan Suter (5G, 10A in 35 games)
(RW) Steve Sullivan ( – 22G, 38A last season)
(C) Dustin Legwand (8G, 20A in 37 games)

STATS COMPARISON

Dallas home 12-5-2 *** Nashville away 7-11-1

Current form (last 5 games)
Dallas L-W-W-W-W *** Nashville W-W-L-W-L

GFA
Dallas 2.98 (7th) *** Nashville 2.68 (15th)

GAA
Dallas 2.47 (7th) *** Nashville 3.00 (24th)

Power Play (%)
Dallas 21.7 (4th) *** Nashville 13.8 (27th)

Penalty Kill (%)
Dallas 87.3 (1st) *** Nashville 84.1 (11th)

HEAD TO HEAD

- THIS SEASON
06.10.2007 Nashville - Dallas 5-1

-06/07 SEASON
Nashville - Dallas 2-4
Nashville - Dallas 3-2
Dallas - Nashville 4-1
Dallas - Nashville 1-0

THE VERDICT
Since backup Mike Smith played for Dallas against St.Louis on Saturday,probable starter for Stars in this game will be (G) Marty Turco (15-7-3 with 2.37 GAA and .908 SV%). Turco have 9-3-0 as his carrer record against Nashville with 1.84 GAA.

Don’t know who will start in goal for Nashville. Coach Barry Trotz wasn’t pleased with Chris Mason’s play last game so maybe he’ll give chance to backup (G) Dan Elis.

Dallas won 9 out of 10 home games against Nashville. Nashille last win in American Airlines Center was 1-2 win on 07.03.2003.

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Dallas 49% -Draw 26% - Nashville 25%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Dallas Stars to win in regulation