Los Angeles (31-17-8) at Dallas (37-19-2)
- When: Feb 28 2025, 8:00 PM
- Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- TV: FDSW
Game Preview
Line: Dallas -135
Total: 5.5
The Dallas Stars look to regain their form at home as they welcome the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night. Dallas is coming off a tough road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets but will aim to bounce back in front of their home crowd, where they have been dominant all season. Meanwhile, the Kings are riding a seven-game point streak but need a strong performance to keep pace in the tight Pacific Division playoff race.
Dallas Stars: Ready to Rebound at Home
Dallas wrapped up a six-game road trip with a disappointing 6-4 loss to Columbus, and the team wasn’t pleased with their effort. The Stars started slow, allowing two goals in the first five minutes, and never fully recovered.
Key Factors for Dallas
Dominant Home Record: 20-6-1 on home ice, making them one of the NHL’s toughest teams to beat at home.
Bouncing Back Mentality: Stars coach Pete DeBoer emphasized that the team expects to win every night and wasn’t satisfied with their effort in Columbus.
Jason Robertson’s Hot Streak: Coming off a hat trick against the Islanders, Robertson continues to be a key offensive threat.
With Mavrik Bourque and Matt Duchene emphasizing a quick recovery, expect Dallas to come out strong, looking to shake off the road struggles.
Los Angeles Kings: Fighting for Playoff Positioning
The Kings enter Friday’s game on a seven-game point streak (5-0-2) but missed an opportunity to grab an extra point at home, falling 3-2 in OT to Vancouver. Los Angeles is still trailing the Golden Knights and Oilers in the Pacific and needs every point they can get to stay out of wild-card territory.
Key Factors for Los Angeles
Strong Recent Form: 5-0-2 in their last seven, proving they are playing at a high level.
Defensive Concerns: Missing Drew Doughty (lower body), who remains day-to-day and could be out again.
Slow Starts Have Hurt Them: Forward Adrian Kempe stressed that the team needs more consistency over a full 60 minutes.
The Kings are a dangerous team when they find their rhythm, but playing in Dallas’ building is a different challenge.
Final Betting Predictions
Moneyline Pick: Dallas -135 – The Stars thrive at home and should respond strongly after a bad loss.
Total Pick: OVER 5.5 – Both teams have strong offensive weapons, and goaltending concerns could lead to plenty of goals.
Puck Line Lean: Dallas -1.5 (+160) – If the Stars start strong, they could pull away late, especially if Doughty is out for LA.
Final Verdict: Dallas should capitalize on their home dominance, while the Kings could struggle defensively if Doughty remains sidelined. Look for Jason Robertson and the Stars’ offense to push the pace and secure a win on home ice.
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
