The Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars shift their series back to Dallas Tuesday for Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The series is tied 2-2. Puck drop from American Airlines Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Wild vs. Stars odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Wild suffered a 3-2 setback in Game 4 on home ice Sunday, frittering away a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. It’s all knotted up instead, and essentially is a best-of-3 series the rest of the way.
The Under result in Game 4 snapped a 2-0 run to the Over. The 2 goals scored by Minnesota were a series low, as the Wild had averaged 3.7 goals per game across the first 3 games.
The Stars have managed 3 or fewer goals in 3 of 4 games in this series, but they’ve gained the split and have wrestled back the home-ice advantage.
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Wild 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 7:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Wild +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Stars -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Wild +1.5 (-225) | Stars -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)
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Wild at Stars projected goalies
Filip Gustavsson (22-9-7, 2.10 GAA, .931 SV%, 3 SO – regular season) vs. Jake Oettinger (37-11-11, 2.37 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO – regular season)
Gustavsson allowed 3 goals on 24 shots in Game 4, suffering the loss on home ice after picking up a 5-1 win in Game 3 in St. Paul. He has still managed a 2-1-0 record, 1.72 GAA and .941 SV% in 3 games so far in the postseason.
Oettinger kicked aside 32 of the 34 shots he faced in Game 4, snagging his first win on the road this postseason. The 2 goals were his fewest allowed in 4 postseason games to date. He is now 2-2-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .909 SV% in 4 playoff starts so far.
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Wild at Stars picks and predictions
Prediction
Wild 3, Stars 2
Moneyline
The WILD (+120) hit the road for Dallas, but don’t expect them to be fazed being back at American Airlines Center, considering that they scratched out a 3-2 win in double OT in Game 1.
These teams have alternated wins and losses in this series, and Dallas won last time out in St. Paul. I expect the Wild to return the favor, pushing the Stars to the brink as the series shifts back to the Twin Cities in Game 6.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Wild +1.5 (-225) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s a little too expensive for my liking. My personal limit is -180 for a standalone wager.
While the Wild have covered the puck line in 3 of the first 4 games in this series, pass, as there is just no value here.
AVOID.
Over/Under
UNDER 5.5 (-125) has cashed in 5 of the past 7 meetings in this series, and the Under connected in the marathon Game 1 which went 2 OT in Dallas.
The Under is 6-1-1 in the past 8 games at home for the Stars while going 36-16-5 in the past 57 games against winning teams
The Under is worth playing lightly, but don’t get carried away, as it’s going to be close.
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