The Dallas Stars (21-17-14) play the first of a two-game set against the Tampa Bay Lightning (35-14-3) Wednesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena. Below, we analyze the Stars-Lightning odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Stars kicked off their road trip in Tampa April 29 and fell 3-0. They are 0-1-2 on the trip, losing in Nashville by a 1-0 count in overtime Saturday, and 5-4 in overtime at Florida Monday. In fact, four of their past six games have ended up requiring overtime.
The Lightning picked up a 2-1 win in Detroit on Sunday, atoning for a 1-0 shootout loss Saturday afternoon in Dallas.
Tampa Bay has averaged just 1.67 goals per game on offense in the previous three, but the good news is they have allowed a total of just two goals during the span.
Stars at Lightning: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Stars +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Lightning -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Stars +1.5 (-200) | Lightning -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +115 | U: -140)
Stars at Lightning: Projected starting goalies
Anton Khudobin (11-10-7, 2.50 GAA, .906 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (30-8-1, 2.10 GAA, .929 SV%, 5 SO)
Khudobin hasn’t won in his past three starts since April 24 in Detroit, and he hasn’t earned a victory in regulation in his previous eight outings dating back to April 10 against the Florida Panthers. He is 0-3-0 with a 3.04 GAA and .867 SV% in three starts against the Lightning.
Vasilevskiy has picked up three straight victories, including a 3-0 shutout of the Stars on Thursday at Amalie Arena. He is third in the NHL with five shutouts, with three of them coming against Dallas.
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Stars at Lightning: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Lightning 4, Stars 1
Money line (ML)
The LIGHTNING (-160) have dominated the Stars (+135) this season, and they have won six of the past seven meetings overall. The favorite is also 6-1 in the past seven in this series.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The LIGHTNING -1.5 (+165) are a solid play despite the penchant of the Stars +1.5 (-200) to play into overtime lately. Three of Tampa’s six victories over Dallas have been by two or more goals, too.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 5.5 (-140) has connected in each of the past three outings for the Lightning while going 6-2 across the past eight.
That includes the 3-0 win over the Stars April 29. Each of the two meetings between these teams at Amalie has already cashed the Under, too.
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