Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. In this series, our team here at Last Word on Hockey breaks down head-to-head matchups and other key elements that may influence the outcome of each game each day. This edition of NHL Predictions analyzes the Friday, February 7, 2025 matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Los Angeles Kings.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars vs. Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-Head: Kings 1-0 Stars
Time: 10:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: ESPN+, Victory+, FanDuel Sports Network
The Stars and the Kings face off for the second time this season as Dallas continues a three-game California road trip on Friday night.
The teams previously met in Dallas on December 4, with Los Angeles emerging with a 3-2 victory. The Kings came from behind to earn the win after falling behind 2-0 in the first period after goals from Wyatt Johnston and Mason Marchment. Forward Tanner Jeannot and defenceman Joel Edmundson scored for the Kings in the second period to tie things up at 2, and forward Warren Foegele netted the game-winning goal early in the third period.
Both teams currently hold playoff spots in the Western Conference, but Dallas has not won in California this season. Will that change Friday night? NHL Predictions digs in.
The Stars Story
Dallas sits in second place in the Central Division. It had been one of the hottest teams in hockey but ran into a buzzsaw in the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The Stars have lost twice to the Ducks this season, calling their play against perceived “lesser teams” into question. In both games, Anaheim scored early, forcing Dallas to play from behind.
The Stars have allowed their opponent to score first in each of their last four games since shutting out the St. Louis Blues on January 25. Yet, Tuesday’s game was the only time they could not complete the comeback. Dallas’ offence has been running hot and cold all year, with one-and-two-goal games piling up after good performances.
Some of that has been due to injury as several key players have missed time. Critically important guys like forward Tyler Seguin and defenceman Miro Heiskanen are currently out for a significant period of time. Since then, Dallas traded for forward Mikael Granlund and defenceman Cody Ceci from San Jose. The two have appeared in two games with the Stars. Granlund tallied an assist in Sunday’s win over Columbus, while Ceci led Dallas’ defencemen in ice time.
Dallas also saw forward Mason Marchment return against the Ducks but lost defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin to injury.
The Kings Story
The Kings are in third place in the Pacific Division, narrowly escaping a wild card spot (for now) by three points over the Calgary Flames. Like Dallas, their play and results have been inconsistent this season, although it has been even more so for Los Angeles lately.
The Kings ended January with three straight losses — two of them shutouts — against Eastern Conference playoff teams, yet turned around for back-to-back wins against two others. Los Angeles has scored 10 goals over its last two games, and while droughts happen, has proven to be dangerous offensively.
Over the past couple of games, the second-line combination of Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield, and Alexis Laferriere has been lethal. The trio has amassed 10 points in February (four goals and six assists) with all four goals coming from Fiala. The Swiss forward is one of two 20-goal scorers for the Kings, joined by Adrian Kempe, who is tied with veteran forward Anze Kopitar for the team lead in points.
NHL Prediction
Dallas has played well on the road recently, but it has not had favourable results in California. The Stars were stymied by great play from goaltender John Gibson in Anaheim, and Los Angeles’ goaltending tandem has been even better this season. Despite the elite goaltending on both sides, Dallas and Los Angeles have often played high-scoring affairs. It could easily swing either way, but the Kings are red hot and get the nod at home in this NHL prediction.
NHL Predictions: Kings win 4-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
Given Fiala’s recent play, Byfield (+215) and Laferriere (+240) have great chances to continue to roll and pick up assists or at least some kind of point if Fiala gets shut down (+125 and +128, respectively). For Dallas, Logan Stankoven has not been finding the back of the net and scoring goals like he had hoped, but he has been a point machine with plenty of assists (+290).
Main photo by: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Feb. 7 Dallas Stars vs Los Angeles Kings appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.