The Dallas Stars (0-0-0) and Nashville Predators (2-0-0) meet Thursday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+/Hulu). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Stars vs. Predators odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Stars open their season in the Music City, where they have dropped 4 straight meetings. Dallas is also just 1-5 in the last 6 meetings with Nashville, so it probably wishes it could start almost anywhere else.
The Predators are back from a successful business trip to Czechia, winning a pair of NHL Global Series games against the San Jose Sharks to get the season off on the right foot.
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Stars at Predators odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:09 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Stars +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Predators -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars +1.5 (-230) | Predators -1.5 (+170)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -120 | U: -105)
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Stars at Predators projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (30-15-1, 2.53 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO in 2021-22) vs. Juuse Saros (1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .968 SV%)
Oettinger had a tremendous series against the Calgary Flames in the playoffs, allowing just 13 goals with a 1.82 GAA and .954SV%, nearly single-handedly carrying the team to the 2nd round. As such, expectations are high for the 23-year-old.
Oettinger went 1-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .919 SV% in 2 regular-season starts against the Predators last season.
Saros allowed just 1 goal on 31 shots at O2 Arena in Prague in the opener against the Sharks.
The Preds starter was hard on the Stars in 2021-22, going 3-1-0 with a 1.97 GAA and .924 SV% across 4 starts.
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Stars at Predators picks and predictions
Prediction
Predators 3, Stars 2
Moneyline
The PREDATORS (-135) look to remain perfect on the early season, and they try to grab their 1st victory on North American soil after looking impressive in 2 games against the Sharks overseas.
The Stars (+110) have the goaltending, but there are some concerns in the back end after losing John Klingberg to free agency. Dallas also has a coaching change, as Rick Bowness stepped away from the team, only to take the Winnipeg Jets job during the offseason. Peter DeBoer makes his team debut here, and it won’t be a successful one.
Puck line/Against the spread
Stars +1.5 (-230) will cost you over 2 times your potential return, and that’s just not a good bet, especially against an offensively-challenged team on the road against a Predators -1.5 (+170) side with a strong backstop.
AVOID.
Over/Under
The UNDER 5.5 (-105) is a strong play whenever Saros is in between the pipes. Really, it’s a good play anytime these teams face each other, too.
The Under is 16-5-5 in the last 26 meetings in the Music City, and the Under already cashed in the first start by Saros overseas.
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