NHL picks and predictions Thursday: Two best bets include Dallas Stars

It’s a busy Thursday evening within the NHL with 12 video games on the docket, together with a pair that includes groups below a number of strain as a result of gradual begins.

We’ll check out a few these matchups. The Dallas Stars journey to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs, and the Vancouver Canucks go to Minnesota to face the Wild.

Listed here are our two greatest bets for Thursday’s NHL slate:

The BetMGM Logo



Threat Free First Guess as much as $1,000 with NPBONUS


New clients solely. Should be 21+. AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY solely. (Welcome Supply not out there in NY & PA) Full T&C apply.

Caesars Sportsbook Logo Square


First guess up To $1,250 On Caesars


New customers solely, 21 or older. NY, CO, DC, IA, IN, IL, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV solely. Full T&Cs apply.


No Sweat First Guess as much as $1,000


21+. New clients solely. AZ, CT, IA, IL, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, WV, WY solely. T&C apply

Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist (5) high fives goaltender Jake Oettinger
Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist (5) excessive fives goaltender Jake Oettinger
Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos

NHL picks and predictions at the moment

Dallas Stars (+143) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (-170), O/U: 6.5

No metropolis handles the ups and downs of an 82-game common season fairly like Toronto. The Maple Leafs are 2-2 by way of 4 contests, however their losses got here towards the groups that completed thirty second and thirty first within the league final season, and their victories got here towards the younger Senators and the unconvincing Capitals. Throw in that the Leafs have already misplaced their beginning goaltender and two key defensemen to damage, and you may see why Rome is beginning to burn just a bit bit.

Whereas the Leafs are off to an uneven begin, all is rosy for the Dallas Stars. Peter DeBoer has gained his first three video games as head coach in Dallas, and the crew’s +10 purpose differential (13 GF, 3 GA) stands out as the most effective mark within the league to this point. 

Lots of that success could be attributed to Jake Oettinger. The 23-year-old netminder is off to a beautiful begin, permitting three objectives on 87 photographs confronted this season. Dallas’ protection is doing an honest job in entrance of Oettinger, however he’s returned the favor by posting a +4.85 Targets Saved Above Anticipated (GSAx) by way of three video games.

Oettinger is not going to begin for the Stars on Thursday evening, however Dallas does have a succesful backup in Scott Wedgewood, who posted a +2.81 GSAx in 37 video games for 3 totally different groups in 2021-22. Not having Oettinger within the internet is a bummer, however the market has appeared to overreact a bit to the information as Dallas moved from +143 to +158. That’s an excessive amount of, particularly for the reason that goaltending battle is principally a wash.

Over the course of the season, the Maple Leafs will possible kind themselves out and put collectively a stretch of dominant hockey to surge up the standings. However as they sit proper now, they’re a susceptible favourite. The protection is skinny, the offense isn’t clicking but, and the goaltending can’t be trusted. There’s sufficient on this matchup to really feel assured in backing a strong crew at +158.

Stars vs. Maple Leafs choose

Dallas Stars +143 (Caesars)

Betting on the NHL?

Vasily Podkolzin #92 of the Vancouver Canucks
Vasily Podkolzin #92 of the Vancouver Canucks
NHLI through Getty Photos

Vancouver Canucks (+150) vs. Minnesota Wild (-178), O/U: 6.5

One in all these groups will do away with their duck on Thursday evening, and regardless that the chances inform us that Minnesota is way likelier to take action than Vancouver, it’s actually laborious to be assured sufficient within the Wild to put this type of worth with them.

During the last half-decade, the Wild have been one of many NHL’s premier defensive items. Minnesota’s roster was by no means deep sufficient or gifted sufficient to out-skill groups, so the Wild relied on the defensive construction to grind out video games. That simply isn’t working this season. Minnesota has allowed 20 objectives by way of the primary three video games of the season and owns a .813 save proportion. These numbers will even out some, nevertheless it’s laborious to be assured in Marc-Andre Fleury proper now.

Fleury is on his method to the Corridor of Fame, however he’s 37 years outdated and has been inconsistent at greatest over the past 5 seasons. The highs have been splendid, however Fleury is not any certain factor to have an above-average season in purpose for Minnesota. Robust goaltending is crucial for each crew within the NHL, however the Wild don’t have a very deep offense to allow them to’t paper over weak play from their netminder. 

The Canucks have their very own issues to take care of — they set an NHL file by blowing multi-goal results in lose their first 4 video games of the season — however Vancouver ought to have a determined edge in purpose with Thatcher Demko slated to begin. 

And whereas Minnesota’s offense doesn’t venture to be noteworthy, the Canucks have loads of expertise up prime to offer some wriggle room for a protection that has spent the primary 4 video games chasing the puck.

The Wild should be favorites, however these odds overrate Minnesota’s possibilities on Thursday evening.

Canucks vs. Wild choose

Vancouver Canucks (+150, BetMGM)

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post