Stars Insider provides insights on Dallas’s lineup heading into Western Conference Finals
As the Dallas Stars prepare for a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals, we spoke with team insider Taylor Newby for her take on the series and potential betting angles.
Dallas is making its third straight trip to the Conference Finals, looking to shake off back-to-back losses to Edmonton last year and Vegas the year before. With redemption on the line, Taylor gave us her thoughts on what to expect this time around.
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Mikko Rantanen – Series Leading Goal Scorer (+420)
It’s hard to pick anyone other than the current playoff leader in goals right now with Mikko Rantanen. The Finnish superstar has shined since joining the Stars and has exploded over the past few games with nine goals and ten assists for 19 points through 11 playoff games before being held off the board over the final two games versus Winnipeg.
“The obvious answer to me is Mikko Rantanen although it felt like he cooled off as the series went on but it did seem like Winnipeg was all over him,” “I also think it could be the other Finns on that line, Roope Hintz & Mikael Granlund, that whole line seems to be unstoppable and is stepping up in each other’s absence.”
– Newby on Rantanen and Stars’ top line
Edmonton fans will believe their 52-goal scorer in Leon Draisaitl will be the man but there’s a fairly wide gap in goaltending. Rantanen has 27 points, including 13 goals in last 25 games versus Oilers and will continue his success against Stuart Skinner, who has a .898 save percentage over 28 starts in the last two postseasons. His 2.55 goals against average during this span seems to be more indicative of overall team play rather than Skinner himself.
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Evgenii Dadonov 1+ Series Goals (-170)
The Oilers have gotten way more out of their current bottom six forwards with 19 goals compared to just six from Dallas’s bottom six. If the Stars want to win this series they will need this group to start producing with Evgenii Dadonov being one of the prime suspects for a bounce back according to Newby.
“After game six, It seemed like he had multiple high-danger chances while somehow having no shots on goal.”
– Newby said on Dadonov
Dadonov has been very serviceable for Dallas in the past with 21 points over 48 playoff games as a member of the Stars. His line with captain Jamie Benn and centre Oskar Back, who hasn’t scored once yet, will need to get going and I believe it’ll result in at least one goal for Dadonov.
Wyatt Johnston 2+ Series Goals (-140)
This pick I agree with as Newby believes Johnston has been “Snake-bitten” when it comes to finding the back of the net this postseason with four goals through 13 playoff games. The 22-year-old star forward has gone without a point in four of the last five games and is due for a breakout versus a team he excels against in the Oilers.
“We all know Mr. Game 7 is not scared of the big moments so it just seems like the pucks will not fall in,” “I think both Wyatt and [Matt] Duchene have been doing the right things but pucks have not been going in for them. Hopefully both of them finally get one so they can start rolling and get some confidence back in their game.”
– Newby on Wyatt Johnston and Matt Duchene both being due for goals
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Duchene has some tough betting lines to get in on at the price tag plus he age may be starting to show at 34 years old but I do expect Johnston to certainly get a pair of goals if not more after recording five goals and two assists for seven points over his last eight games versus the Oilers.
In their series last postseason, he scored goals in three of the six games versus Edmonton and should be able to produce again especially as he’s due with one goal in his last six games heading in.
Taylor Newby’s Series Prediction: Stars in 7 (+420)
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