The Dallas Stars are hosting the New Jersey Devils tonight in a matchup between two teams looking to add a boost to their playoff positions.
Dallas is sitting at -175 on the moneyline showing that they’re the clear favorite at home, while New Jersey comes in as the +145 underdog. Despite both teams sitting fairly decent in the playoff standings, this feels like some lopsided odds. However, that just means more opportunities for some good bets.
Dallas has been one of the strongest teams in the Western Conference this season. On top of that, they have been in solid form over the last 10 games as they’ve won 7 of their last 10 while averaging 3+ goals per game.
The Devils, on the other hand, have been somewhat inconsistent despite having a decent overall record. They’ve gone 5-5 in their last 10 contests and struggled offensively at times. New Jersey will undoubtedly need one of their best performances to keep pace in the Metropolitan Division, but beating Dallas on the road will be one of the more challenging tasks.
Dallas has been excellent in its own end of the ice this season as they’re allowing just 2.57 goals per game.
Their defensive strength comes largely from goaltender Jake Oettinger, who has been one of the most reliable netminders in the NHL. Oettinger enters tonight’s game with a decent 29-13-2 record, a 2.44 goals-against average, and a .911 save percentage. While we can’t say those numbers are his career-best levels, he has been playing well of late and is capable of shutting down high-powered offenses.
For New Jersey, Jacob Markstrom is expected to start in the net. He has been fairly solid this season, posting a 21-10-5 record with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. That’s slightly better than Oettinger. He has been one of the few bright spots for the Devils, but he will need to be a brick wall to slow down Dallas’ dominant attack unit.
Despite having one of the best goalies in the NHL, New Jersey has struggled defensively at times. They’re allowing 2.88 goals per game, and facing a deep Stars lineup presents one of the biggest challenges over their last few games.
The Stars have been one of the better-scoring teams in the NHL. Averaging 3.40 goals per game, they’re a deep threat that can get past the best defenses in the league.
Their attack is led by Matt Duchene, who has put up a decent 62 points consisting of 25 goals and 37 assists this season. He has been consistent all year and has found good chemistry with Dallas’ top 6.
As for the Devils, their offense has been what we’d say is hit-or-miss. Jack Hughes has been their most productive player, of course, as he leads the team with 70 points over 27 goals and 43 assists. He is undeniably the key to the Devils’ attack, but beyond him, the team has struggled to generate consistent offensive pressure. They’ll need some of their deeper lines to step up if they’re going to hang with the Stars.
Dallas is clearly the better team on paper. They have a stronger defense, a more balanced offense, and home-ice advantage and we don’t see this game ending without them getting 2 points.
We’ll admit that the Devils have the talent to keep it close, but their inconsistent scoring and defensive lapses make them a risky bet against a disciplined team like Dallas. If Oettinger has a bad night, they might have a chance.
The Stars took the first meeting between these teams 4-2 back in February, and we think there’s little reason to believe this game will go much differently. We expect Dallas to control the game and secure another win on their home ice.
BettorsInsider Prediction: Dallas 4, New Jersey 2
Best Bet: Dallas -1.5 (+160)
The Stars have been strong at home with their 22-7-1 record, and with Oettinger in net, they should be able to cover the puck line against a fairly inconsistent Devils squad.
Props are where the fun really starts in games like this, and we’ve got a few that stand out as the best for tonight’s game. These bets focus on key players and trends that have been hitting consistently, so you might want to add them to your bet slip.
Jason Robertson Over 0.5 Points (-188). Robertson has been an absolute machine when the Stars are favorites — and they are tonight. He’s recorded at least one point in 9 of their last 10 in that spot. With Dallas expected to control possession of the puck, he should be in a great position to extend that trend.
Jesper Bratt Over 0.5 Points (-162). Bratt has had success against Dallas despite what the odds look like. He’s notched at least one point in each of the last 4 games against them. If the Devils generate any offense, he’s one of the likeliest players to be involved with a helper or a goal.
Wyatt Johnston Anytime Goalscorer (+190). Johnston has been heating up at home as he’s scored in each of the Stars' last 3 games in Dallas. At nearly 2-to-1 odds, we love the value this bet brings for a young scorer finding his groove.
Props give us a way to target specific trends that keep cashing, and these 3 have the numbers to back them up. These are some of the best NHL prop bets for the night.