Stars vs. Blackhawks prediction: a creative wager for Wednesday night

Ahead of Wednesday’s Western Conference NHL clash in the Lone Star State, we’re set to provide our Stars vs. Blackhawks prediction and best bet.

The Stars, who still lead the Central Division, are looking to right the ship Wednesday night at home. Dallas has lost four straight games and has lost 12 of 19 this calendar year.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have produced a nice run of form, winning three straight games, including an overtime win Tuesday night against the Golden Knights.

Wednesday, Chicago is a heavy +350 underdog with the Stars sitting at -450 on the moneyline. The total is set at six goals, juiced -110 in each direction.

Dallas Stars First Period -0.5 (-125)

This really sets up as a disaster spot for the Blackhawks, who find themselves in the perfect sell-high position on the second night of a back-to-back following an overtime game.

Plus, there aren’t many favorable trends going in the Blackhawks’ direction, at least historically.

In 11 games this season immediately following a game involving overtime or a shootout, the Blackhawks have lost the first period outright in a majority of those contests.

Additionally, if you look at their eight games this season where they play on the second night of a back-to-back, they’ve lost the first period in half of those contests. But, only two of those games involve the Hawks transitioning from a home game to a road game on that back-to-back, so there’s a case to be made this contest could go far worse than that record suggests.

Finally, when the Blackhawks are classified as a heavy road underdog, they’re very bad in the first period.

In eight games this season where the Blackhawks close as a road underdog of +300 or higher, they’ve lost the first period in all but one of those games.

On the flip-side, the Stars enter in a great buy-low spot.

Sure, they’ve lost four games in row, but look at the level of competition in those games. The first two came against the Lightning and Bruins, teams not even close to the level of the Blackhawks.

Then, they traveled to Minnesota to face a solid Wild team for a game that ultimately went to overtime. Then, they had to return home to face a weak Blue Jackets team on the second night of a back-to-back.

However, they’ve now had an extended rest period and find themselves a worthy play in the first period.

This season, when the Stars are listed as a home favorite of -300 or higher, they’ve dominated the opening frame. In five qualifying games, the Stars have won the first period outright all but one time.

Included in that sample is a previous home game against the Blackhawks, which saw Dallas capture the first period 1-0.

For all those reasons, I’ll take the Stars to right the ship early against the Hawks so long as this price remains at -135 or better.