If history is any indicator here, and believe me, it usually is unless we've got a Marty McFly situation going on, then we're in for a doozy of a game between the San Jose Sharks and the Dallas Stars.
When it comes to sitting pretty in the net, the Sharks have Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek splitting the difference. Now, Blackwood has been looking sharp with a save percentage sitting at a cool 92.0% in the last month and 90.8% for the season. Vanecek's not far off, but we all know, in hockey, as in life, those small percentages can make a world of difference.
On the other side of the ice, Dallas has Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith defending the sacred sanctuary that is their net. The Stars might just have a slight edge here with Oettinger carrying a heavy 91.6% save percentage this season and, despite seeing less rubber, DeSmith has managed to keep pace at 91.4%.
Now let's talk about who's going to be trying to penetrate these bastions of defense. The Sharks are seeing some magic from Mikael Granlund and William Eklund this season, although their plus-minus stats might have them spending more time soul-searching in the mirror than they'd like. On a brighter note, Fabian Zetterlund and Jake Walman have been delivering, with Walman proving himself a solid playmaker.
Now, stepping onto the ice under the glittering lone star, Dallas has a veritable armada of talent. Keep an eye out for Matt Duchene, whose last month stats have him skating at 9 goals and 9 assists, earning a +7 in plus-minus. The Stars also have strong support from the likes of Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin. Not to mention, ever heard of a guy named Evgenii Dadonov? No? Well get your roster cards ready, because this kid can play.
If we take a peek into the rearview mirror at the past match-ups between these two sea creatures, the Stars seem to be shining a bit brighter leading 4-1 in their most recent meetings. Sure, the Sharks have had a bite or two, but let's just say Dallas has figured out how to avoid those pesky fins between the pipes.
In terms of regular season records, the Stars have been casting a long shadow with 11 wins against the Sharks' 6. Despite a few stellar performances, like the Sharks' recent win over Detroit and an impressive shutout against New Jersey, they seem to struggle to maintain consistency, which is about as useful as a solar-powered flashlight during a lunar eclipse.
So, as I glance into my crystal ball (or it might just be a paperweight, hard to say), the stage seems set for a clash of titans. And with the Stars' recent spree of being on the right side of the score sheet more often than not, it’s hard to bet against them here.
Albert’s Prediction: Dallas Stars by 2
