Coyotes left to play spoiler while Stars fight for Central lead
NHL: Coyotes vs Stars Odds
The Arizona Coyotes (28-35-5, 61 points) take a quick one-game trip to the American Airlines Center to take on the Dallas Stars (41-19-8, 91 points) before returning home for a lengthy home stand at the Mullett.
The Coyotes have put together a couple of wins in a row after outscoring the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings by a combined 8-2 score, but are far out of the playoff race.
Dallas is in a three-way tie with the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets, each at the 91-point mark, with the Jets owning a game in hand on the Avs and two on the Stars. Oddsmakers have opened the Dallas Stars as a massive -278 favorite with a total of 6.5 (under -120).
The puck is scheduled to drop at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT and can be seen on Bally Sports Southwest and the Scripps Network. Let’s start our Coyotes vs Stars odds preview, which should result in an entertaining NHL score.
Coyotes vs Stars 
Day/Time:
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Streaming: Bally Sports Southwest/Scripps Network
Coyotes Fans Back To Worrying About New Arena
Not that any of this has anything to do with handicapping tonight’s hockey game, but the ‘Yotes are so far out of the playoff picture that Arizona fans are heading back to worrying about the team’s future in the desert.
It will take at least 68.5 million to purchase the piece of land on which Arizona would like to build an arena, although the team says that the land in North Phoenix is one of several options the team is considering. Back to handicapping.
We don’t want anything to do with our money backing the Coyotes as the 27th-ranked team in our latest NHL power ranking, even at +220. Arizona has been a solid over wager all hockey season long with 36 overs in 63 decisions with five pushes.
The ‘Yotes have allowed just two goals in their last couple of games, but to rely on a team that allows 3.29 goals (23rd) and 31.90 shots per game (23rd) will eventually result in ripped-up tickets.
Dallas Goaltending Needs To Be A Strength
We have the Dallas Stars as a top 10 NHL team in our recent power rankings, but to move up into the league’s elite, they must be able to lean on goaltender Jake Oettinger (25-13-4, 3.05 goals against, .896 save percentage) and Scott Wedgewood (15-6-5, 2.83, .902).
The 31-year-old Wedgewood has been terrific in has last seven games, allowing 10 goals, while giving up one goal or less four times. Oettinger has not been as good in his previous four games while giving up 16 scores. The 25-year-old goaltender was pulled last start against the New Jersey Devils after giving up four goals in 23:52 on March 14th.
Wedgewood pushed aside 28 shots in Dallas’ 4-1 victory in their only game since Oettinger was pulled, making it an interesting watch at morning skate on Wednesday to see which goaltender is first off the ice indicating the starter.
Listening to Pete DeBoer, it seems that Wedgewood may have a slight edge heading into the postseason. With the perception that if the Stars are to win the three-team race in the Central, they must be better than the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche defensively, the Coyotes present an opportunity for Dallas to put another quality effort in the bank from either goaltender.
Big Name Might Be Back For Stars
It’s been almost a month since Tyler Seguin has played for the Dallas Stars, but some reports suggest that the veteran forward could be back for this one. Seguin was at the 20-goal mark when he went out with an upper-body NHL injury.
Adding him back to the line-up will give Dallas an offensive boost, but even without the veteran in the line-up, the Stars should get plenty of chances with 20-goal scorers on their top three lines. The over gives us an even money opportunity, and we suggest taking full advantage.
That does it for our Coyotes vs Stars odds preview, we wish you all the best with your NHL picks and parlays tonight.
For NHL betting news, NHL odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
