NHL predictions: Stars shining bright after big win over Oilers

After an impressive 5-0 victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday evening, the Dallas Stars has extended their winning streak to eight consecutive games, amassing 105 points across 76 matches. This performance places them at the pinnacle of the Western Conference and just a hair's breadth away from surpassing the New York Rangers in the global rankings.

Supported by robust analytics, The Stars shines third in the NHL, boasting a 55.1 percent in score-and-venue-adjusted expected goals during their five-on-five play this season. This depth showcases a harmonious blend of both celebrated stars and diligent role players, alongside a balanced mix of seasoned veterans and promising young talent.

With their sights firmly set on the Stanley Cup, The Stars (+1048* to clinch the Stanley Cup) enjoys a brief respite from play on Thursday, basking in their triumph over Edmonton a tad longer. However, their rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, are gearing up for action and are currently trailing by five points in the Central Division standings.

OPTIMAL MONEY LINE WAGER

The trade of Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline seemed like a white flag on a rather unremarkable season. Despite a favorable goal differential, they were off the playoff track and only managed a scant two victories out of nine following the deadline.

Yet, the tide has turned with four victories in the last five matches, placing the Penguins just three points shy of the Washington Capitals for the second wild card slot in the Eastern Conference and a mere four points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the third in the Metropolitan Division. Against all odds, the Penguins are still contenders for the playoffs!

The remainder of the season presents a formidable challenge for the Penguins, facing teams either already in the playoffs or in serious contention, leaving no room for slip-ups. The upcoming face-off with Washington on Thursday is critical for Pittsburgh’s playoff aspirations.

The Washington Capitals’ grip on a playoff spot is astonishing, considering they’ve been outscored by 35 goals. The last instance a team with such a negative goal differential made the playoffs was the Hartford Whalers (-36) back in the 1991-1992 season, who ultimately bowed out in the first-round playoff series in a double-overtime of Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Statistically, the Penguins have outperformed this season. While that sets a relatively low benchmark for comparison, it lends enough credibility to favor the Penguins in Thursday’s match to intensify the playoff competition.

Penguins ML (-112*)

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The Los Angeles Kings, after a triumphant 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, are set to play their second consecutive game. Sitting five points ahead of the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card position in the Western Conference, every point remains crucial.

Despite a 3-8 record in back-to-back games this season, the Kings’ prospects against the league’s bottom team remain unaffected.

Betting against the San Jose Sharks has been a prevalent choice this season, and rightly so. Aside from a few competitive spurts, they’ve largely been overwhelmed by their adversaries. With only two victories in their last 21 matches and 13 of their 16 regulation losses by at least a two-goal margin, the Sharks have struggled.

The Kings, eager for a playoff berth, are expected to dominate and secure a win with ease against San Jose.

Kings -1.5 (-112*)

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The Colorado Avalanche, with top-tier talent, are well-equipped for a high-scoring showdown. Yet, they’ve tightened their defensive game, achieving a 2.27 goals against average in the past month, the fourth-best in the NHL.

The Avalanche visit the Minnesota Wild, who cling to the hope of snagging a playoff spot. The Wild, lagging eight points behind with only seven games left, face an uphill battle. However, they’ve managed to stifle their opponents defensively, boasting a 2.15 goals against average in the past month, ranking second.

Both teams possess the scoring prowess, with players like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, and Kirill Kaprizov potentially turning the game into a scoring fest.

Nevertheless, the Wild’s recent performance, averaging a total of 4.81 goals (for and against) per 60 minutes over the last month, suggests a lower-scoring game is more likely.

Avalanche-Wild Under 6 (+104*)

BEST PLAYER PROP BET

Despite the need for more consistency in usage and line combinations, Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers has kept up his scoring streak. With nine points over his last 10 games, including scores in seven of those, and points in 22 of 38 home games, Ehlers demonstrates his scoring capability.

Facing the Calgary Flames, who have suffered six losses in their last seven games, Ehlers and the Jets find themselves against an opponent with a recent goal against average of 4.00, ranking 31st. This positions them as a favorable matchup for Ehlers and the Jets.

Nikolaj Ehlers Over 0.5 points (-108*)

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