Dallas Stars vs Calgary Flames Picks and Predictions December 8th 2024

Stars Look to Rebound at Home Against Flames

The Dallas Stars (16-10-0) return to American Airlines Center on Sunday, hoping to shake off their road woes and take advantage of their league-best home winning percentage (10-2-0). Facing the Calgary Flames (12-11-6), who also struggle on the road (3-6-4), the Stars are determined to reassert themselves after dropping two straight road games.

Dallas Stars: Seeking a Timely Boost

Despite their stellar home record, the Stars have found life on the road challenging, exemplified by a 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. Penalties were a major issue, as Dallas was short-handed six times, surrendering two power-play goals to Vegas.

“We can’t be doing that,” said captain Jamie Benn, reflecting on his double-minor penalty during a critical moment. “I definitely could have prevented my penalty … it was a dumb penalty, and they found a way to get one in the net.”

Offensive Struggles

While Dallas remains one of the NHL’s best defensive teams, their offense has been inconsistent. Jason Robertson, a two-time 40-goal scorer, embodies the team’s current scoring struggles. Robertson has managed just five goals this season and saw a goal in Vegas overturned upon review.

“It might be frustrating, but get out there and find another way to score,” head coach Peter DeBoer said.

The Stars will look to reignite their offense on home ice, where they’ve found confidence and rhythm throughout the season.

Calgary Flames: Road Woes Continue

The Flames have also faced significant struggles away from home, with just one road win in their last 11 games. Their latest defeat came Thursday in a 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. Despite earning three out of four points during a brief homestand, the Flames know they must improve on the road to solidify their playoff position.

“Our big focus is getting on the road here, and getting some wins on the road,” defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said.

An Unpredictable Offense

Calgary has scored a power-play goal in eight of their last nine games, totaling 10 man-advantage markers in that span. However, their offensive inconsistencies are glaring: the Flames have not scored more than three goals in a game for 24 straight contests.

“If you score three goals a night, you should win a game,” head coach Ryan Huska noted. “When we play the right way and play our game, we’re going to score more than three goals.”

Forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who is tied for the team lead with 16 points, emphasized the team’s defensive mindset as both a strength and a challenge for offensive players.

“We’re a hard team to play against because … we play more defensively,” Huberdeau said. “You have to buy into that, and if you do, I feel like you’re going to get rewarded at some point.”

Key Matchup to Watch

• Special Teams Battle: Both teams have strong power plays but have struggled with penalty killing recently. Dallas will need to limit trips to the penalty box after allowing two power-play goals against Vegas, while Calgary must shore up their penalty kill, which has been exploited frequently in recent games.
• Jason Robertson vs. Calgary’s Defense: Robertson’s scoring slump is a focal point for Dallas, and he’ll need to find opportunities against Calgary’s defense to regain his rhythm.

Discover detailed insights in NHL Atlantic Division Odds & Predictions.

What’s at Stake?

For the Stars, a win would reestablish their dominance at home and provide much-needed confidence as they look to regain consistency. Their ability to capitalize on home ice has been a key factor in their success this season.

For the Flames, a victory would mark a step toward addressing their road struggles and maintaining a grip on their playoff position. Improving their offensive output while staying disciplined defensively will be essential to earning points in Dallas.

Fans can expect a tightly contested matchup as both teams aim to turn the page on recent frustrations and build momentum heading deeper into the season.