10:38 pm
April 18

Stars @ Canucks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Dallas Stars (43-27-5)

@ Vancouver Canucks (37-28-10)

 

Starting Goalies:

Jake Oettinger (DAL): Confirmed

Thatcher Demko (VAN): Unconfirmed

 

Current odds:

Dallas Stars: (-110)

Vancouver Canucks: (-110)

 

• The Canucks (37-28-10, 84 points) will play host to the Dallas Stars (43-27-5, 91 points) on Monday without captain Bo Horvat, who suffered a leg injury late in Thursday’s 7-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Vancouver’s playoff hopes are faint at best, being seven points out with seven games remaining, but losing a leader who is pacing the team with 31 goals is a huge blow.

• Fortunately, it appears forward Brock Boeser will return after missing five games and likely will take Horvat’s spot on a line with Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland.The Canucks have been a long shot to make the playoffs since starting the season with a 6-14-2 mark, but they haven’t stopped pushing and have a handful of players rolling. J.T. Miller, who posted a career-best five assists against the Coyotes, has collected 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in his last 12 games. Pettersson has 18 points in 13 outings (nine goals, nine assists), while Garland has seven points (two goals, five assists) in a five-game point streak and Alex Chiasson has netted nine points (five goals, four assists) in a five-game run.

• The Stars, who hold one of the two Western Conference wild-card positions, are coming off a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. The Stars were not at their best against the floundering Sharks, but they still are on a 10-3-2 run at a pivotal part of the season.

• Dallas will need more of that determination during a crucial three-game Western Canada road trip. While the Stars are running neck and neck with the Nashville Predators in the two wild-card spots, they are well aware the Vegas Golden Knights sit four points behind them.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Vancouver Canucks
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