NHL Matchup - December 21, 22, 23, 2007

The Dallas Stars will try to get back on the winning track when they visit the red-hot Calgary Flames, who will try to parlay a six-game road winning streak into an equally successful homestand.

Dallas has the upper hand head-to-head, going 6-3-0-1 over the past 10 meetings. The teams last faced off on Oct. 12, when Calgary edged Dallas 3-2 on the road.

Going back more than four seasons, the Flames have struggled against the Stars, winning just five (5-10-3 SU) of their past 18 meetings.

Dallas (19-12-4 SU) had won four straight until they lost to the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 Thursday night, +120 road underdogs. Calgary (17-13-5 SU) is coming off a perfect road trip, including a 3-1 win on their last stop against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Over/under bettors should take note of the “Under” trend in recent Dallas-Calgary matchups, as the Under is 4-1 in the past five meetings, as well as 4-2 in Calgary's past six games at home.

According to the Dallas News, backup Mike Smith will get the start in goal for Dallas after Marty Turco lost last night in Vancouver. Miikka Kiprusoff starts for Calgary.

As of Friday morning, online sportsbooks were reporting that 52 per cent of bettors were backing a Dallas win.

Betting Line: The Flames are 165-moneyline favorites at BodogLife. The over/under is 5.     

The Minnesota Wild will try to continue their recent hot streak against the NHL’s best team when the Detroit Red Wings visit on Saturday.

But it’s Detroit that has been the dominant team head-to-head, losing just twice in the past 10 meetings (8-1-0-1 SU). The teams last met on Dec. 7, when the Red Wings shut out the Wild 5-0 at home.

The Red Wings are 16-5-3 SU in the past 24 meetings with the Wild, including a 4-1 Su record in the past five in Minnesota.
 
Minnesota (20-12-2 SU) has won four straight and outscored opponents 16-8 over that span, including a 6-3 win against the visiting New York Rangers Thursday. In their last game, the Red Wings (25-7-3 SU) were edged 3-2 by the St. Louis Blues on the road Thursday.  

The Red Wings suffered a key injury against the Blues, losing Tomas Holmstrom to a knee injury. Holmstrom, who is Detroit’s second-leading scorer with 17 goals, has returned to Detroit and will have an MRI on Saturday morning.

Four of the past six meetings have gone “Under,” and all five of the Red Wings’ past five road games have also gone Under. The home team is 4-0 SU in the past 4 meetings.

Betting Line: The Red Wings are a 135-moneyline favorite at BookMaker. The over/under is 5.

The Vancouver Canucks visit the Colorado Avalanche Sunday night in the third of eight meetings this season between the Northwest division rivals.

The Canucks have won both meetings this season, one at home and one in Colorado. In their last meeting on Nov. 9, the Canucks edged the Avalanche 2-1 in OT at home. Six days earlier, Vancouver edged Colorado 4-3 on the road, paced by Daniel Sedin’s two goals and one assist. That game was Colorado’s first loss on home ice this season.

In their last games, Vancouver (19-12-4 SU) visited the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night, while Colorado (19-13-2 SU) hosted the New York Rangers Friday.

Vancouver is 10-6-2 SU on the road this season. Colorado is 13-3-0 SU at home. The Avalanche are 20-6 SU in their past 26 home games.

The Canucks are 4-1 SU in their past five games against a team with a winning record.

The Under is 7-3-4 in the Canucks’ past 14 overall, and 4-0-1 in the Avalanche’s past five overall.

Betting Line: Odds are not yet available. Check out BetUS closer to game time.