PREMIUM
GAME OF THE WEEK (Rogers' 10* NHL) >> Won Last Week's!
(NHL) Ottawa vs. Dallas,
Money Line: -108.00 Dallas (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -108.00 Dallas (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 36-22-6 Ottawa Senators extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-2 victory over Boston in a showdown for second place in the Atlantic Division, moving four points ahead of the Bruins as they open a three-game road trip tonight in Dallas. The Stars earned the top seed in the Western Conference with 109 points last season but even their current 5-0-2 run in the last seven games leaves them seven points behind the Blues, who own the West's final playoff spot.
Ottawa: The Senators gave notice that they were serious about their playoff aspirations with the trade-deadline acquisitions of Alex Burrows and Viktor Stalberg. The team has responded by winning all three games since importing the veteran forwards. Burrows scored one goal and set up another in Tuesday's win to give him three goals and an assist in the three games while Stalberg tallied in Saturday's 3-2 win over Columbus. This game is the first of a three-game road trip with the good new being, stops in Arizona and Colorado follow. The Coyotes (53) and the Avalanche (39) own the NHL's two-worst records!
Dallas: The Stars continue to puzzle most keen observers. They are fresh off ending the NHL-leading Washington Capitals' 15-game home winning streak, (4-2 on Monday) but making the playoffs this season remains a long-shot. That said, one need look no further than Dallas allowing 3.18 goals per game, to rank 28th of 30 teams, to identify the team's struggles this season. The Stars' goaltending has been wildly erratic, although Kari Lehtonen has raised his level in the last two victories, turning aside 83 of 86 shots at Florida and Washington to post at least 40 saves in back-to-back games for the first time since June 2008.
The pick: Ottawa won't take Dallas lightly (especially after the Stars' eye-opening win at Washington) but with 'cream puffs' Arizona and Colorado up next, just maybe the Senators will come up flat. Dallas head coach Lindy Ruff wants to see his team carry the momentum of his team's win at Washington forward into Wednesday and it's my bet the Stars will do just that. Make Dallas a 10* play.
Ottawa: The Senators gave notice that they were serious about their playoff aspirations with the trade-deadline acquisitions of Alex Burrows and Viktor Stalberg. The team has responded by winning all three games since importing the veteran forwards. Burrows scored one goal and set up another in Tuesday's win to give him three goals and an assist in the three games while Stalberg tallied in Saturday's 3-2 win over Columbus. This game is the first of a three-game road trip with the good new being, stops in Arizona and Colorado follow. The Coyotes (53) and the Avalanche (39) own the NHL's two-worst records!
Dallas: The Stars continue to puzzle most keen observers. They are fresh off ending the NHL-leading Washington Capitals' 15-game home winning streak, (4-2 on Monday) but making the playoffs this season remains a long-shot. That said, one need look no further than Dallas allowing 3.18 goals per game, to rank 28th of 30 teams, to identify the team's struggles this season. The Stars' goaltending has been wildly erratic, although Kari Lehtonen has raised his level in the last two victories, turning aside 83 of 86 shots at Florida and Washington to post at least 40 saves in back-to-back games for the first time since June 2008.
The pick: Ottawa won't take Dallas lightly (especially after the Stars' eye-opening win at Washington) but with 'cream puffs' Arizona and Colorado up next, just maybe the Senators will come up flat. Dallas head coach Lindy Ruff wants to see his team carry the momentum of his team's win at Washington forward into Wednesday and it's my bet the Stars will do just that. Make Dallas a 10* play.
