Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars odds, picks and predictions

The Nashville Predators (22-18-1) visit the Dallas Stars (24-11-5) for a Central Division clash Friday night. The opening faceoff at American Airlines Center is slated for 8 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Predators vs. Starsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Nashville last played Tuesday, falling to the Anaheim Ducks 5-3. Over a stretch that opened with a loss to Dallas on Dec. 23 and includes another game -- a win -- against the Stars, the Predators are 3-4-1 over their last 8 games.

The Stars scored 7 goals in their last game on Wednesday vs. the Minnesota Wild and have averaged 4.86 goals per game since Dec. 29. They are now 2nd in the NHL in scoring 3.68 GPG. Dallas is 5-1 over its last 6 games against Nashville.

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Predators at Stars odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:19  p.m. ET.

Predators at Stars projected goalies

Juuse Saros (16-15-1, 3.09 GAA, .899 SV%) vs. Scott Wedgewood (12-4-3, 3.11 GAA, .895 SV%)

Saros started Tuesday's game and yielded 5 goals on 33 shots. He has allowed 5 goals in 4 games since Dec. 27; over that stretch, he owns an .835 SV%.

Wedgewood stopped 21 shots in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Wild. The 31-year-old netminder has won 7 of 12 starts since Jake Oettinger (lower body) went down Dec. 15.

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Predators at Stars picks and predictions

Prediction

Stars 4, Predators 3

The Dallas shot-quality analytics have been quite strong of late. But there are goaltending questions heading into this matchup against a Nashville club that has strong puck-possession numbers over recent weeks.

STEER CLEAR.

The Over is the most likable play in this game. So, Dallas is a would-be lean; the Stars are the better club in a game that could get a bit loose. A Dallas -1.5 +145 return would be attractive. Consider holding out for a tag in that neighborhood, or AVOID.

Three straight Nashville games have hit the Over. The Preds have allowed 4.00 GPG when playing on 2-day rest. Over their last 7 games, they've cranked out 34.7 shots per contest, and over its last 10 games they've upped their high danger looks.

The Stars have also worked their way to better shooting positions in recent games; the Over is 7-3 across their last 10.

Both teams have been leaky in short-handed situations in recent games.

FanDuel Sportsbook has the best leverage price here: TAKE THE OVER 6.5 (-106).