Arizona Coyotes @ Dallas Stars Game Preview and Prop Pick

Six NHL games are on the docket tonight, one of which features the Arizona Coyotes heading to Dallas to take on the Stars. We’ll preview the game before going over my best prop play for the action.

Game Preview

Arizona was one of the worst statistical teams in the NHL during the first half of the season, but since their return from the All-Star break, they have been overachieving on a nightly basis. In the first ten games to start the second half of the season, the Coyotes are 5-2-2-1 and will enter tonight off a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

On the season, Arizona ranks 28th in the league in average goals per game, with an average of 2.7, but over their past ten games, they are averaging 3.3 goals per game. Consistently finding the back of the net was undoubtedly an issue for Arizona, especially since they still rank last in the league in shots on goal per game.

Defensively Arizona has remained a below-average team, ranking 31st in shots allowed and 25th in goals allowed per game this season. In five of their last ten games, opponents have scored at least four goals, so while the momentum might be growing on offense, it continues to trend downwards on defense.

In the last meeting between these two teams on January 21st, the Stars came away with a 4-0 home victory in which goalie Jake Oettinger came away with a 33-save shutout. Dallas will certainly be hoping to return to the form they were in that game, as they are just 3-3-3-1 over their past ten games.

The Stars don’t look like the team that is ranked second in the league in goals allowed per game this season. In their nine games back from the All-Star break, they are allowing an average of 2.8 goals per game, while starting goalie Jake Oettinger just put up a save percentage of .762 in their most recent game loss to the Canucks.

Prop Pick for the Game

For my prop play in this one, I’ll be targeting Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots on goal at (-130). The left winger has registered a point in back-to-back games and, over his past ten games, is averaging 3.3 shots on goal per game. In that ten games span, Hintz has gone over his total in seven of those games, including the past two games in which he’s put up a combined 12 shots on goal.

Hintz and Dallas have a good matchup tonight when it comes to getting off shots since the Coyotes are allowing an average of 35.5 shots per game, which is the second most in the league this season. The confirmed goalie for the Coyotes tonight, Connor Ingram, has seen an average of 37.7 shots per game in his last ten starts and recently allowed six goals to the Nashville Predators.

The left winger did not play in the last meeting between these two teams, but the Stars still got 39 shots on goal in that game and saw eight players over the 2.5 shots mark. Between the momentum he has and the matchup, I think this is an excellent spot to target him.

Recap

• Roope Hintz Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-130)