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Dallas, TX – The temporary loss of Jason Arnott could be considered a setback for the Nashville Predators. But they still have J.P. Dumont available, and that can mean bad news for the Dallas Stars.
With Arnott likely out with an injury, Dumont will look to continue his offensive prowess as the Predators meet the Stars on Wednesday for the second time in five nights.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Dallas -161 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5.5 goals (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 68% of bets for this game have been placed on Dallas –161 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
Arnott is day-to-day after suffering a bruised hand on Monday, when Nashville (2-1-0) defeated Chicago 3-2 in a shootout to spoil the Blackhawks’ home opener. The Predators official Web site, though, reported that Arnott – tied for the team lead with two goals and second with four points – will sit out this contest and a home-and-home series with Columbus starting on Friday.
Following that, Nashville doesn’t return to action until Oct. 23 at home against Calgary.
Dumont, who will be playing his 600th NHL game, hasn’t scored a goal yet this season but is the Predators’ leading scorer with five points through three games. He had three assists on Saturday – two coming on goals by Arnott – as Nashville opened its home slate with a 3-1 win over the Stars.
"He seems to find me wherever I am," Arnott said of Dumont. "We kind of created that chemistry and bond. We’re talking all the time. When we’re coming to the bench, he’s saying, ‘Did you see me here? Did you see me there?’ Because next time when you get on the ice, he’s going to be there."
Dumont, now in his 10th season, needs one point for 400 in his career, and likely will reach the milestone against Dallas (0-1-1). The right wing has four goals and three assists in a five-game point streak against the Stars.
He drew an assist and added a shootout goal in the win over Chicago.
Dan Ellis stopped 23 shots to beat the Blackhawks, and has allowed only three goals in his last two games after surrendering five in a season-opening loss to St. Louis on Friday. A former second-round draft pick by Dallas in 2000, Ellis is 2-0-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average and a shutout in his career against the Stars at the American Airlines Center.
Dallas, which hasn’t played since facing the Predators over the weekend, went 0-for-5 on the power play in that contest and 0-for-35 in its last six games against the Predators.
The Stars also have just one power-play goal in 12 chances so far this season, an area where coach Dave Tippett wants to see improvement.
"We made a couple mistakes on the penalty kill (at Nashville) and you have to be strong on both sides of special teams," he told the Stars’ official Web site. "We have to be on the plus-side of the ledger in that respect. We generated a lot of chances on the power play but the pucks were just not rolling our way."
Trevor Daley scored and Marty Turco made 29 saves as Dallas lost for the fourth time in its last five against the Predators.
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Posted: 10/15/08 12:30 AM
