The Dallas Stars look to retake home-ice advantage against the Minnesota Wild Friday in Game 3 of their 1st-round series. Puck drop at Xcel Energy Center is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Stars vs. Wild odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Series: Tied 1-1
The Stars lost C Joe Pavelski, who suffered a concussion from a nasty hit by D Matt Dumba in Game 1. Dallas fell 3-2 in double overtime in that one. The Stars countered Minnesota’s Game 1 body blow with a haymaker to the jaw in a 7-3 decisive win in Game 2. C Roope Hintz scored his 1st-career hat trick as he logged goals on the power play, penalty kill and at even strength.
Minnesota went to G Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 2, and he allowed 7 goals on 31 shots. The Wild will have to clean up their penalty kill as they’ve allowed Dallas to convert on 5 of 11 power plays in the series. LW Kirill Kaprizov will have to re-emerge for Minnesota to have a chance in this series. Dallas got under his skin and got him off his game in Game 2.
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Stars at Wild Game 3 odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:08 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Stars -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Wild -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars -1.5 (+220) | Wild +1.5 (-275)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Stars at Wild Game 3 projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (37-11-11, 2.37 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO – regular season) vs. Filip Gustavsson (22-9-7, 2.10 GAA, .931 SV%, 3 SO – regular season)
Oettinger has given up 3 goals in each game and has stopped 68 of 74 shots in the series. He dominated Minnesota in the regular season, going 2-0-1 with a 1.87 GAA and a .937 SV%. He was great in Minnesota as well, stopping 54 of 56 shots in a win and a shootout loss.
Gustavsson will probably see the bulk of the work after Fleury gave up 7 last game. It was a curious move to go to Fleury after Gustavsson was great in Game 1, stopping 51 of 53 shots. He was 1-1 with a 1.97 GAA and .939 SV% against Dallas in the regular season.
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Stars at Wild Game 3 picks and predictions
Prediction
Wild 3, Stars 2
Moneyline
Minnesota is very good on home ice, evidenced by their 25-12-4 mark during the regular season. They have found ways to beat Oettinger, and Gustavsson should provide the balance between the pipes to overcome Dallas’ net-front presence. It’s a tight matchup, and Minnesota has won 2 out of the last 3 in the matchup.
LEAN WILD -(105).
Puck line/Against the spread
I don’t like either side on the puck line here. I look for Kaprizov to get back into a rhythm offensively. After 6 shots in Game 1, he had just 2 Wednesday. He’ll be more focused and stay out of the box in this one.
Take KIRILL KAPRIZOV OVER 3.5 SHOTS (-140).
Over/Under
The Under hit in Game 1, and the Over smashed in Game 2. Things should tighten up in this one with Gustavsson back in for the Wild. We’ve had 5 or fewer goals in 5 of the last 7 meetings between these teams.
I’ll LEAN UNDER 5.5 (-120).
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