Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars: Picks, predictions, odds and player props

Thursday in the NHL is a busy one with 12 games featuring matchups being between likely playoff teams headlined by the Central Division joint-leaders, the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars, facing off.

The Jets and Stars enter this game tied for the Central division lead with 79 points, although the Jets have four games in hand on the Stars.

These teams have trended in opposite directions over the last couple of weeks with Winnipeg on a roll and Dallas reeling a bit, but the Stars have won both head-to-head matchups this season and look to make it a third consecutive win.

Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars betting picks and predictions

Stars to win outright: -135

The Stars have been one of the best teams in the NHL all season without near as much recognition as fellow top teams.

As of Wednesday, they got even better with their acquisition of defenseman Chris Tanev.

The Stars are going through a bit of a rough patch having lost six out of their last seven games, but they are at home and have a jolt of energy on the news of their new teammate.

If there is a silver lining to the Stars’ current stretch, it is that their losses were to very good teams and mostly close games.

In contrast, the Jets have won seven out of their last eight games, but also narrow victories against mostly bad teams.

Despite the recent stretches of each team, this one looks good for the Stars given their wins in both head-to-head matchups this year, as well as the urgency with which they will play to break out of this slump. 

Joe Pavelski over 0.5 points: -130

In tough stretches like the Stars are currently going through, typically the team’s veterans and top performers lead the way out of it. At 39 years old and with over 1,300 NHL games under his belt, Joe Pavelski certainly qualifies as both.

Pavelski is having another very productive year to the tune of 20 goals and 29 assists. His 49 points are good for fourth on the team this season.

That is especially good considering he is a key contributor to the NHL’s sixth-best scoring team by goals per game.

Pavelski is on the Stars’ top line with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. He is also on the team’s top power play with Hintz, Robertson, Jamie Benn, and Miro Heiskanen.

Every time Pavelski steps on the ice, he is playing with fellow stellar players that always have a chance to produce.

In what has the makings of a good, close game, Pavelski and company will be leaned on with plenty of ice time to help push the Stars toward a win. In his career, Pavelski has consistently come through.

Under 6.0 total goals: -115

The Under has been more common for each of these teams lately. The Under is 19-30-8 for the Jets on the season. That includes 10 Unders in their last 13 road games, as well as a 4-5-1 Over-Under-Push record in their last 10.

The Total has also gone Under in the Stars’ last five games entering tonight. 

Another low Total would only reinforce head-to-head trends on the season. These teams have met twice this season and only 7 total goals have been scored across the two games, which the Stars won.

That is an average of 3.5 total goals scored per game between these teams head-to-head. 

The Jets have the best goal prevention in the NHL as they allow a league-best 2.35 goals per game, led by star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Still, the Stars have found their way through in the two head-to-head meetings.

That also indicates Dallas’ stellar goal prevention - led by their own star goalie in Jake Oettinger - when they play Winnipeg this season. The pure matchup and recent trends bode well for another Under. 

Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars Odds

Winnipeg Jets	+115 ML
Dallas Stars	-135 ML
Puck Line	Dallas Stars -1.5
Total	O/U 6.0

Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Kyle Connor	+160
Jason Robertson	+170
Mark Scheifele	+180
Roope Hintz	+190
Joe Pavelski	+210

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.