The Ottawa Senators (19-15-2) travel to face off against the Dallas Stars (22-13-1) on Thursday, January 2nd. This game will be played at American Airlines Center in Dallas and televised on ESPN+. The Senators are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Stars are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Panthers. Puck drop is set for 8:00 ET.

Senators vs Stars

The Ottawa Senators Are Coming Off A Win

Ottawa moved to 19-15-2 with a 3-0 win over the Kraken. The Senators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short.

Three different players scored for Ottawa, with Adam Gaudette opening the scoring at 5:28 in the first period. The Senators added goals in each period, including a third-period empty-netter to seal the victory.

The Dallas Stars Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Dallas fell to 22-13-1 after a 4-2 loss to the Panthers. The Stars were underdogs on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score of 6 falling just short of the over.

After trailing 2-0, the Stars tied it up with two goals in the second period, but the Panthers pulled away with two more goals, including an empty-netter in the third. Evgenii Dadonov and Matt Duchene each scored for Dallas in the loss.

Ottawa Offense Breakdown

Ottawa’s offense took 23 shots on goal and scored three times in their 3-0 win over Seattle. The Senators’ first goal came from Adam Gaudette, who now has 7 goals this season. Brady Tkachuk added his 7th goal as well, while Tim Stützle netted his 6th on an empty net with 2:14 left in the game.

Stützle also picked up his 10th assist on Tkachuk’s goal. Michael Amadio earned his 2nd assist on Stützle’s empty-netter. Ottawa had 11 giveaways in the game.

Stars Offense Breakdown

Dallas took 25 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their game against Florida. Evgenii Dadonov, with his second goal of the season, got the Stars on the board with a power-play goal in the second period. Matt Duchene added his seventh goal and also picked up his eighth assist.

The Stars were held scoreless in the first and third periods, with both of their goals coming in the second. Dallas recorded 32 giveaways, and four players contributed assists, including Wyatt Johnston, who now has five assists this season.

Ottawa Team Defense

Anton Forsberg stopped all 22 shots from Seattle, finishing with a 100% save percentage. The Senators’ defense also contributed 2 takeaways and 25 hits. After Ottawa took a 1-0 lead at 5:28 of the first period, the defense held strong, not allowing a goal.

Dallas Team Defense

Defensively, the Stars gave up the first two goals of the game, including one at 8:47 into the 2nd period. After tying it up at 2-2, they allowed two more, with the last coming on an empty netter. Casey DeSmith made 21 saves, posting an 87.5% save percentage. The Stars’ defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 26 hits.

Senators vs Stars Trends

• Across the Senators last five road games, the team averaged 2 goals per game while allowing 2. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 2-3, while going 3-2 straight-up.
• Across the Stars last five home games, the team averaged 2 goals per game while allowing 2. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 2-3, while going 2-3 straight-up.
• The last three games that Dallas was the underdog, they have an puck line mark of 0-3 while going 0-3 straight up.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the favorite, the Senators have a straight up record of 8-2. Their record vs the puck line in these games was 3-7.

Senators vs Stars Prediction

For those seeking a straight moneyline bet, the Stars are the top choice. Nonetheless, with a payout of -195, you might want to use this bet as a part of a parlay to get better odds.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Senators to cover. Even if the Stars secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Senators should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.