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The Edmonton Oilers clash with the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of their best-of-7 Western Conference Final at American Airlines Center Thursday. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Oilers vs. Stars odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Oilers survived some shaky goaltending to outlast the gritty Vancouver Canucks in 7 games. It was a weird series for C Connor McDavid, who went without a point in 3 of those games. He only had 1 goal in the series and had 5 shots in the last 3 games combined. The Oilers found ways to win without him scoring goals. He had an injury late in the regular season. Is that still an issue? Did Vancouver unlock something defensively? Those questions will be answered soon.
The Stars wiped out the Colorado Avalanche in 6 games. They dropped the first game at home and then won 4 of the next 5. They lost C Roope Hintz to an upper-body injury in the series. He’s listed as day-to-day but has been skating as if he’ll be ready to go. An even bigger issue is G Jake Oettinger left Wednesday’s practice as he felt under the weather. He’s the X-factor of this series, and if he’s shaky at the start of this series, it could be a short one.
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Oilers at Stars odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:57 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Oilers +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Stars -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Oilers +1.5 (-225) | Stars -1.5 (+185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Oilers at Stars projected goalies
Stuart Skinner (7-3, 2.87 GAA, .881 SV%, 1 SO in 10 GS these playoffs) vs. Jake Oettinger (8-5, 2.09 GAA, .918 in 13 GS these playoffs)
Skinner was essentially benched midway through the last series, but the defense stepped up upon his return. Skinner stopped 14 of 15 and 15 of 17 in the last 2 games of the Vancouver series. He faced the Stars once this season and lost after allowing 4 goals on 27 shots.
Oettinger was great against the Avs, shutting the door with 29 saves on 30 shots in the clincher. He went 1-0-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV% in 2 starts against Edmonton this season. He stopped all 35 shots in the April 3 meeting and allowed 4 goals on 24 shots in the other meeting.
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Oilers at Stars picks and predictions
Prediction
Oilers 3, Stars 2
Moneyline
The Stars have lost the opener in each playoff round thus far, despite it coming at home. They lost all 3 Game 1s last season as well, and 2 of them came at home. With health concerns to one of their top forwards and a potentially ill goalie, I’m taking the OILERS +110.
Puck line/Against the spread
No thanks to the puck line here. I’m going with ZACH HYMAN OVER 3.5 SHOTS (-110). He had 4+ shots in the last 2 games and in 5 of 7 of the last series.
Over/Under
The Oilers are 5-4-1 O/U in their last 10, and the Stars are 4-5-1 in their last 10. Head-to-head, the Over has cashed in 6 of the last 10 with it cashing in 2 of the 3 meetings this season. This is a tricky one because Skinner has been shaky, and Oettinger is potentially sick. But I’m going UNDER 6 (-110).
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