| The defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks host division rival Dallas Stars in the opening game of their first-round NHL playoff series Thursday night.
Dallas has a 6-2-0-2 edge over the past 10 meetings. Dallas is 6-3 SU in the past nine meetings overall, but Anaheim is 5-2 SU in the past seven meetings in Anaheim. The teams last squared off on March 30, when the Ducks edged the Stars 3-2 as a -160 home favorite. The score was a push on the total of 5.
The Stars (45-30-7) defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-2 as a -130 favorite in their regular-season finale. The six goals scored went over the total of 5. Antti Miettinen and Stu Barnes scored for Dallas in that win, while Brenden Morrow had a pair of assists.
The Ducks (47-27-8) beat the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout in their last game of the regular season. The score was a push on the total of 5. Chris Kunitz scored his 21st goal of the season for Anaheim, while Jonas Hiller made 32 saves in that win.
The total has gone over in four of Dallas's past five. Dallas is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games on the road, but 2-4 SU in its last six on the road.
Anaheim is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games at home, and 5-1 SU in its last six overall.
The Ducks will start goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who was 35-17-6 with a career-best 2.12 goals-against average this season. Dallas counters with Marty Turco, who was 32-21-9 with a 2.32 GAA.
The game starts at 10:05 pm ET and can be seen on VERSUS (HD) in the U.S. and TSN (HD) in Canada.
BETTING LINE: The Ducks are a -165 moneyline favorite at BetUS, while the over/under total is 5.
BETTING CONSENSUS: About 57 per cent of bets on this game are on the Ducks, according to Public Betting information.
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