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 Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 regular-season finale between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators.
NHL Predictions featuring Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Stars 2-1 Predators
Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: Victory+, ESPN+, FanDuel Sports Network South
Two Central Division rivals will end the 2024-25 regular season where it began as the Nashville Predators host the Dallas Stars to close the season on Wednesday night. The teams have met three times this season. Dallas will continue into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Nashville did not qualify for the postseason.
The Stars and Predators began the season on October 10th in Nashville. Dallas escaped with a 4-3 victory, led by two goals from forward Mason Marchment as the Stars scored four goals on their first five shots. However, Nashville responded with a 4-1 drubbing in Dallas in December as forward Ryan O’Reilly took over the game in the second period.
After a 5-1 win by the Stars in the most recent matchup, Dallas is looking to claim the season series. Nashville can salvage a series split and end a tumultuous season on a positive note with a win. Who will prevail?
The Stars Story
Dallas is locked into second place in the Central Division and a first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche — reported to begin on Saturday night.
Hearing that Stars-Avalanche Game 1 will be Saturday night, as expected.
Sounding like it might be around an 8 p.m. CT start time.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) April 15, 2025
The Stars have won 50 games for the second straight season and sealed their fourth straight playoff appearance.
However, there is much that could be improved as the team has fallen victim to third-period (and overtime) collapses against teams of different success levels. Dallas has lost six games in a row since its last meeting with Nashville. While many of those were played with a shorthanded lineup due to load management and injuries, it’s enough to draw concern from analysts, experts, and faithful fans.
Head coach Pete DeBoer has said he plans to use the full roster available to him for the season finale. Many wonder if that means we will finally see Tyler Seguin return to the ice. Seguin has not played in a game since December 1st, but there have been rumours and speculation that he may appear in a game before the regular season concludes. This would be the last chance to play him before the postseason.
Pete DeBoer says he will play everyone available in the season finale at Nashville.
The Tyler Seguin watch officially begins now.— Bruce LeVine (@BruceLeVinePuck) April 15, 2025
The Stars’ depth has helped keep them going in the meantime, but Seguin would be a welcome addition as the team tries to snap its losing streak ahead of the playoffs.
The Predators Story
Nashville may have had the most disappointing season in the NHL and is the latest example of “winning the offseason” not translating into becoming a better team on the ice. The Predators signed high-profile free agents in forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and defenceman Brady Skjei and began the season as one of the top-ten Stanley Cup contenders according to oddsmakers.
Instead, the Predators’ run of 11 consecutive winning seasons is over. Hampered by a few key injuries, especially a season-ending injury to team captain and star defenceman Roman Josi, Nashville has only won 29 games. That number is its fewest since the 2012-13 season, and they have been left to play spoiler as the season concludes.
Josi still leads all Nashville defencemen in points, despite missing 29 games. Stamkos, Marchessault, O’Reilly, and Filip Forsberg have all scored at least 20 goals this year, but there has been little help from the forward group beyond those four players.
NHL Prediction
Both teams play a more inspired brand of hockey given the current stakes. Nashville comes out looking like it wants to end the season with a win, while Dallas looks more playoff-ready with its full roster. The game stays close, but ultimately, Dallas’ depth prevails late.
Prediction: Stars win 4-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
The Stars and the Predators both seem to hit their strides in the second period, which could make it a good pick as the highest-scoring period (+275) on Wednesday.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: April 16th Dallas Stars vs. Nashville Predators appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.