The Dallas Stars (9-5-1) and Columbus Blue Jackets (6-7-0) meet on Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio at 7:00 PM ET and can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.
The Stars opened their two-game Eastern Conference trip with a 6-5 victory against Washington in the nation’s capital. The Stars have won back-to-back games since losing back-to-back home contests against New Jersey and Montreal from October 27-29. The Over has cashed in four of its last five outings.
Dallas beat Columbus 3-1 on Halloween at the Metroplex before it went to D.C. The Stars (-185) covered the puck line in that win as the Under (5.5) cashed in. F Mikko Rantanen scored a power-play goal to start the scoring, while D Thomas Harley was credited with the game-winning goal. Columbus D Damon Severson provided CBJ’s only light bulb.
For the Blue Jackets, they were just 4-6-0 in their last 10 games, but they proved why Columbus should be taken seriously one last time. The short ‘dogs (+105) posted a 7-2 win against the underperforming Colorado Avalanche in the second end of a back-to-back on Tuesday.
The Over was rare for Columbus, as he had earned the Under in five of his last eight outings. The seven-goal outburst against the Avalanche in particular was surprising. Prior to this win, Columbus had managed to light the bulb just 23 times in its previous 11 games, or just 2.1 goals per game (GPG). He has allowed three goals or fewer in five straight and seven of his last eight.
The Blue Jackets are 27th in scoring with 2.7 GPG and 25th in shots on goal (SOG) with 25.5. That’s just 17.1% on the power play. Defensively, Columbus has allowed a middle-of-the-road 3.2 GPG, as well as 15th-ranked shots at 27.2 SOG. The penalty kill hasn’t been great for the Jackets, killing penalties at just a 72.5% clip, 24th in the NHL.
The Stars are 26th with 2.6 GPG, 24th with 25.6 SOG, 24th. That’s 21.9% on the power play. The defense, though, is where the bread is buttered for the Stars. 1st in the NHL with 2.1 GPG, 22.3 SOG and a ridiculous 93.6% penalty kill.
The goalie for Dallas is expected to be Jake Ottinger (8-3-1, 1.90 GAA, .909 SV%, 3 SO) and he has been on fire this season. And on the road, the Lakeville, Minn. native is 3-0-1 with a 1.48 GAA and .934 SV%, with two shutouts in four starts.
Columbus is expected to face veteran journeyman Cam Talbot (4-2-0, 2.70 GAA, .900 SV%) who has done well between the pipes.
we will take STARS ML on the money line (-130).and let’s go DOWN 5.5 (-105) overallespecially because of Oettinger and his closing potential.