Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers visit Jamie Benn and the Dallas Stars for Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference Finals on Thursday evening. Edmonton wrapped up its second-round series on Monday as the Oilers held on for a 3-2 Game 6 win against the Vancouver Canucks. Meanwhile, Matt Duchene scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime as the Stars bested Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche in Round 2.
Opening faceoff at American Airlines Center is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. Dallas is a -130 favorite (risk $130 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Stars vs. Oilers odds from SportsLine consensus, while Edmonton is a +109 underdog. The over/under for total goals scored is 6 and Dallas is a -1.5 (+190) favorite on the puck line. Before making any Oilers vs. Stars picks, you need to check out the NHL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
SportsLine's model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times, taking into account factors like current form, individual matchups, injuries and short- and long-term trends when making NHL picks. It entered the 2024 NHL Playoffs on a 7-4 run on top-rated puck-line picks.
Now, the model has set its sights on Stars vs. Oilers and just locked in its NHL picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the latest NHL odds and trends for Oilers vs. Stars:
- Stars vs. Oilers money line: Dallas -130, Edmonton +109
- Stars vs. Oilers over/under: 6 goals
- Stars vs. Oilers puck line: Dallas -1.5 (+190)
- DAL: The Stars won two out of three regular-season games against the Oilers
- EDM: The Oilers are 4-2 in their last six games on the road
- Stars vs. Oilers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Oilers
It's hard to bet against McDavid, who leads all skaters this postseason with 19 assists. Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl have been lighting the lamp with regularity and took advantage of a Canucks defense that lost steam in Round 2. Edmonton has also been getting secondary scoring from players like Evander Kane, who has scored two goals in his last three games.
Edmonton has gotten two good starts out of Stuart Skinner. After being benched for two games in favor of Calvin Pickard, the starting netminder allowed just three goals in two games as the Oilers' offense took care of business on the other end of the ice. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why you should back the Stars
The Stars have the most line depth of the two teams, getting contributions from captain and third-liner Jamie Benn and fourth-line center Sam Steel in the last round. The depth scoring is a reliable offensive source behind a top line centered by Wyatt Johnston. The youngster leads Dallas with seven goals in the playoffs, while linemate Jason Roberston leads with nine assists and defenseman Miro Heiskanen tops the team with 13 points.
Starting netminder Jake Oettinger is reason enough to back Dallas. He has reached another level in these playoffs as he shut down the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, the winners of the last two Stanley Cups. He will be the toughest goalie the Oilers have seen this postseason, and he will have help in front of him with Heiskanen, Esa Lindell and Chris Tanev on the blue line. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Stars vs. Oilers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 5.9 combined goals. It also says one side of the money line is the better value. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Oilers vs. Stars, and which side of the money line is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Oilers vs. Stars money line to jump on Thursday, all from the advanced model that has simulated this matchup 10,000 times.
