The Anaheim Ducks (17-21-5) host the Dallas Stars (25-14-4) Thursday at Honda Center for a 10 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Stars-Ducks sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Stars at Ducks: Projected starting goalies
Ben Bishop vs. John Gibson
Bishop had the night off Wednesday as backup Anton Khudobin led the Stars to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The three-time Vezina Trophy finalist won his last two starts and is 14-9-3 on the year with a .926 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average. He has been considerably worse on the road with a .895 SV% and 3.31 GAA.
Gibson is coming off a home win over the Nashville Predators Sunday in which he stopped 22 of 26 shots on goal. He has a .906 SV% and 2.95 GAA for a 13-16-3 record.
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Stars at Ducks: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Ducks 4, Stars 2
Moneyline (ML)
The Stars (-139) have strung together five straight wins, including three by at least two-goal margins. Khudobin drew both of the last two starts against the weaker competition of the Kings and Detroit Red Wings. Dallas is 7-3 across its last 10 games and 10-8-2 on the road for the season. The Ducks (+115) are coming off a 4-3 home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday. They’re 3-6-1 across their last 10 but are 11-8-3 at home.
Back the DUCKS (+115) at plus-money, due to their relatively impressive home record and Bishop’s struggles on the road. Both teams are below 50% in Corsi rating (percentage of total shot attempts) at 5-on-5.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The safer, but less rewarding play, is to take the DUCKS (+1.5, -250) on the puck line. The Stars are 23-20 against the spread overall and 12-8 on the road, while the Ducks are 21-22 ATS overall and 10-12 at home. The Stars won the year’s first meeting 2-1 in Dallas.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Ducks to lose by just 1 goal or win outright returns a profit of $4. The same wager on the moneyline for the straight-up win fetches a profit of $11.50.
Over/Under (O/U)
Go with the OVER 5.5 (+115) as the more profitable play. Anaheim is 7-3 against the Over/Under across its last 10 games while Dallas is 5-4-1. Follow Bishop’s road splits in our 4-2 win for the hosts as star D John Klingberg (lower body) remains out for Dallas.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 160-139
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