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The Columbus Blue Jackets (26-19-7) visit the Dallas Stars (33-17-1) Sunday. The opening puck drop at American Airlines Arena will be at 6 p.m. (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Blue Jackets vs. Stars odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Dallas won series 2-0 in 2023-24
Columbus clocked a 3-2 overtime win against the Utah Hockey Club Friday. The Blue Jackets are 2-0-0 on a current road trip and 3-0-0 in the last 3 games. All 3 wins have been of the extra-time variety. Columbus had its struggles in November and December, but went a robust 10-2-1 in 13 January tilts.
Dallas also last played Friday. The Stars reeled in their fourth straight victory by topping the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Dallas has averaged a solid 3.35 goals per game in going 13-4-0 since Dec. 29.
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Blue Jackets 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 2:21 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Blue Jackets +225 (bet $100 to win $225) | Stars -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jackets +1.5 (-120) | Stars -1.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Blue Jackets at Stars projected goalies
Elvis Merzlikins (19-11-3, 2.89 GAA, .896 SV%) vs. Jake Oettinger (26-11-1, 2.32 GAA, .912 SV%)
Merzlikins last played Thursday when he stopped 25 of 26 pucks against the Vegas Golden Knights. He has played through a tough slate to clock a .955 SV% over his last 3 games.
Oettinger was between the pipes Friday, and he allowed exactly 3 goals for a third straight game. The 26-year-old owns a tidy .927 SV% across 10 career games against the Blue Jackets.
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Blue Jackets at Stars picks and predictions
Prediction
Stars 5, Blue Jackets 3
Moneyline
Too much juice in which to wade in seek of profit. PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
Dallas is 4-1 across the last 5 series meetings and 7-2 over the last 9. Four of those 7 wins — including the last 2 — have been my multi-goal margins.
Recent 5-on-5 expected-goals analytics are very bearish on the Blue Jackets. Columbus has coughed up a slew of high-danger looks, but with a high save percentage, and that’s allowed the club to post a couple of recent win streaks despite not having the mechanics to crank out better possessions.
Columbus has just 1 power-play goal over its last 9 games; the Dallas PP has 9 goals in its last 29 chances (31%).
STARS -1.5 (+100) is the value side in this Sunday evening contest.
Over/Under
In the last 5 series games played in Dallas, the winning side has lit the lamp 4 or more times. The 2 series games played last season both tilted on the Over.
Expected-goal analytics — especially over the last 10 games for each side — are leaning toward Dallas being involved in high-scoring games all around and toward Columbus yielding more scores.
BACK THE OVER 6 (+100).
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