Stars vs Wild Game 2 Prediction NHL Playoffs Picks 4/19

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Game Preview: Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars - NHL Picks, Predictions and More

The Minnesota Wild visit the Dallas Stars on Wednesday with a 1-0 lead in the series, and both teams are gearing up for a heated battle on the ice. NHL picks experts, NHL picks computer predictions, and NHL today experts are all weighing in on what to expect from this matchup between top Central Division contenders. The Dallas Stars have a 47-21-14 record overall, and a 18-4-5 record in Central Division games this season. They have a 39-7-6 record when scoring at least three goals, and will be looking for a big offensive performance to even the series against the Wild. Minnesota has gone 46-25-11 overall with a 17-8-2 record against the Central Division. The Wild are 23-11-2 in games they convert at least one power play. NHL picks and parlays are pointing towards the Wild as favorites to win this game, but the Stars are sure to put up a tough fight. Top performers on both teams include Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen for the Stars, and Kirill Kaprizov and Matthew Boldy for the Wild. NHL experts picks today are heavily considering these players in their analysis of how this game will play out. As for NHL picks with spread and NHL predictions today, the Stars are currently listed at -153 favorites, with the Wild at +128 underdogs. The over/under is set at 5.5 goals. Fans and bettors alike will be watching closely to see how these numbers shift leading up to puck drop. All in all, this promises to be an exciting and closely contested game between two top NHL teams, with high stakes on the line in their first round playoff series. 

Wild Offensive Analysis:

The Minnesota Wild have a decent offensive lineup, led by Kirill Kaprizov who has scored 40 goals and added 35 assists this season. Matthew Boldy has also been contributing to the team's offense with six goals and three assists in the past 10 games. However, they will need to step up their game if they want to overcome the Dallas Stars in the playoffs. The Stars have been on fire in their last 10 games, averaging 3.5 goals and 6.7 assists per game. Jason Robertson has been their standout performer with 46 goals and 63 assists this season. Miro Heiskanen has also been in excellent form, contributing 12 assists in the last 10 games. While the Wild have a decent power play, they will need to work on converting their opportunities against the Stars, who have a solid penalty kill. The Stars have a record of 39-7-6 when they score at least three goals, which means that the Wild defense will have to be sharp to keep them at bay. The Wild's recent form has been ok, but they will need to improve their offensive performance if they want to win this game. While the Stars are the favorites to win, the Wild could surprise them with a strong offensive showing. Our NHL picks experts are predicting a tight game, with the Stars winning by a narrow margin. If you're looking for the best NHL bets today, consider a parlay with the Stars winning by one goal and the total goals staying under 5.5.

Wild: Defensive Analysis

The Minnesota Wild are entering Game 2 of their playoff series against the Dallas Stars with a 1-0 lead, and they have their defense to thank for it. The Wild have been stout defensively all season, allowing just 2.57 goals per game. They will need to continue this trend if they want to advance to the next round of the playoffs. The Wild have a solid defensive core, led by Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon. Suter is a veteran defenseman who has been a workhorse for the team all season, averaging over 22 minutes of ice time per game. Spurgeon is a smaller defenseman but is strong in his own end and can contribute offensively as well. In front of the defensemen, the Wild have a strong goaltending tandem in Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen. Talbot has been the primary starter this season and has a 17-8-3 record with a 2.63 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Kahkonen has played well in relief, going 16-8-8 with a 2.59 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. The Wild also have a strong penalty kill, which will be crucial in the playoffs. They have killed off 85.2% of penalties this season, which ranks 4th in the NHL. Dallas may struggle to score if the Wild can continue to shut down their power play. The Wild will need to continue playing their strong defensive game if they want to win Game 2 and advance further in the playoffs. If they can limit the number of quality chances for Dallas and get solid goaltending, they should be able to come out on top.

Stars: Offense Analysis

The Dallas Stars have a solid offensive strategy, boasting a 39-7-6 record when they score at least three goals. They have some impressive top performers, with Jason Robertson leading the way with 46 goals and 63 assists, and Miro Heiskanen providing crucial support with 12 assists in the last 10 games. However, the Stars will need to step up their game if they want to overcome the Minnesota Wild, who have a 1-0 lead in the series. NHL picks experts and computer predictions may favor the Stars, but their recent performances have been lackluster. While they have an impressive 8-1-1 record in the last 10 games, they have only averaged 3.5 goals per game. In comparison, the Wild have averaged 3 goals per game in the same period, despite having a 5-3-2 record. The Stars will also need to watch out for the Wild's power play. Minnesota has a 23-11-2 record in games where they convert at least one power play, and the Stars will need to stay disciplined to avoid giving their opponents an advantage. Overall, while the Stars have a strong offensive lineup, they will need to step up their game to overcome the Wild's current lead in the series. NHL picks and parlays may favor the Stars, but they will need to work hard and avoid costly mistakes if they want to succeed.

Stars: Defensive Analysis

The Dallas Stars have a tough task ahead of them as they look to even the series against a strong Minnesota Wild team. However, their defensive prowess could be the key to success in this game. The Stars have been one of the strongest defensive teams in the NHL this season, allowing just 2.47 goals per game, tied for the third-best mark in the league. They have done an excellent job of limiting opponents' shots, giving up just 28.7 per game, the second-fewest in the league. One player who has been a key contributor to the Stars' defensive success this season is defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Heiskanen has been a stalwart on the blue line, averaging over 25 minutes of ice time per game while chipping in 9 goals and 21 assists. He has been particularly strong as of late, with 12 assists in his last 10 games. Of course, defense is a team effort, and the Stars will need everyone on the ice to help out in that department. Goaltender Anton Khudobin will likely be between the pipes for Dallas, and he has been solid this season with a .916 save percentage and a 2.47 goals against average. The Wild will present a formidable challenge, as they finished the regular season ranked sixth in the NHL in goals scored per game. However, if Dallas can continue to play stout defense and limit Minnesota's scoring chances, they will give themselves a good chance to even the series. In conclusion, while the Wild may have the offensive firepower, the Stars' defense has the ability to stifle their attack and potentially turn the tide in this series. 

Injury Report

In terms of injuries, the Dallas Stars have no players listed as injured. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild have a few players with injury concerns. Mason Shaw is out for the season due to a knee injury. Joel Eriksson Ek is day-to-day with a lower body injury, as is Oskar Sundqvist. John Klingberg is also day-to-day with a lower body injury. These injuries may impact the Wild's lineup and their ability to compete against the Stars in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series. NHL picks experts and computer algorithms may take these injuries into account when making predictions, so it's important to keep an eye on the latest injury updates before placing any NHL bets today. The Wild will need all their key players fit and healthy to have the best chance of winning, and NHL picks and parlay bets may change depending on the injury status of certain players.

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