San Jose Sharks - Dallas Stars predictions and free betting tips [27/03/2024]

The San Jose Sharks are set to host the Dallas Stars in the upcoming NHL regular championship match.

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are facing a tough time this season, holding the bottom place in the league with 40 points resulting from 16 wins and 46 losses. The squad recently extended its losing streak to seven matches and suffered defeats in 16 of the last 17 games. A particularly disheartening moment for the team was their overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks with a scoreline of 5:4, where the Sharks couldn't hold on to a four-goal advantage, ultimately missing out on victory after conceding four goals, including the decisive one in the final 47 seconds of regular time. The San Jose Sharks average 2.2 goals a match, marking one of the lowest league tallies, with power-play opportunities registering at a rate of 20.7%. Their defence concedes a league-high average of 4.0 goals a game, ranking them last amongst all NHL teams. Fabian Zetterlund and Mikael Granlund stand out as the key offensive players, contributing 20 goals and making 36 assists respectively. Their recent showings underscore the team's main weaknesses both offensively and defensively where the Sharks have struggled to maintain consistency with a relatively weak lineup.

Dallas Stars

Holding second place in the Western Conference with 44 wins and 97 points, the Dallas Stars are aiming to secure their playoff position for the Stanley Cup. Recent team performances include 4 consecutive wins, over both the San Jose Sharks and the Arizona Coyotes, showcasing impressive results through effective play from the second and third lines. This was particularly evident in matches against Pittsburgh and Arizona, where different lines demonstrated a high level of team collaboration and strategic depth. After going down a goal in the 8th minute of the third period against Arizona, the Stars rallied back, not only enduring a 5-3 disadvantage but also scoring the game-winner. Dallas showcases solid defence with the fourth-best tally in the league for goals conceded during away matches. The contribution of Miro Heiskanen, who scored the decisive goal, deserves special mention. Russian player Evgenii Dadonov suffers from an upper-body injury that has seen him miss 15 matches, with 12 goals and 11 assists over 54 matches to his name. Leading the attack are Roope Hintz with 26 goals and Jason Robertson with 48 assists, both reflecting team cohesion and efficiency, as well as scoring an average of 3.63 goals a game, ranking second in the league. With an average of 2.97 goals conceded per game, Dallas underlines its reliability in successfully combining aggressive attacks with solid defence.

Head-to-Head

Recent encounters between San Jose and Dallas yielded the following results: the game on March 6th, 2024, ended with Dallas winning 7:6 in overtime after trailing 6:3. On March 3rd, Dallas won 3:2 in the shootout. The face-off on January 19th, 2023, concluded in a 5:3 victory for San Jose, whereas the match on January 1st, 2023, finished 5:2 in favour of Dallas. Lastly, on November 12th, 2022, San Jose secured a 5:4 win.

Prediction for the San Jose Sharks - Dallas Stars match

Dallas desperately needs the points to secure a good seeding position before the playoffs. Meanwhile, San Jose is weathering a disastrous season, showing the worst results on many fronts. Therefore, a confident victory for the Stars is anticipated.