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The Ottawa Senators (10-14-1) and Dallas Stars (14-7-5) meet Thursday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). The Senators were piped 5-2 at home by the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday, snapping a modest 2-game win streak. Despite the lopsided loss, Ottawa is still a respectable 4-2 in the last 6 games, including 3-1 in the last 4 against Western Conference clubs.
The Stars were paddled at home by the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday, getting shut out by Matt Murray and the visitors 4-0. Dallas has been feast or famine from an offensive perspective, going for 4 or more goals in 5 of the last 7 games, while posting 1 or no goals in the other 2 outings.
- Moneyline (ML): Senators +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Stars -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Senators +1.5 (-150) | Stars -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Senators at Stars projected goalies
Cam Talbot (4-7-0, 2.83 GAA, .907 SV%) vs. Jake Oettinger (9-3-3, 2.54 GAA, .916 SV%, 2 SO)
Talbot was pounded for 5 goals on just 14 shots before getting pulled midway through the 2nd period on Tuesday against the visiting Kings. The goal total matched his season-worst effort Nov. 8 at home against the Vancouver Canucks.
On the road, Talbot is 4-2-0 with a 2.19 GAA and .928 SV% in 6 starts, as opposed to 0-5-0 with a 3.48 GAA and .888 SV% in 5 home outings.
Oettinger was on the short end of a 4-0 loss to the Maple Leafs last time out, allowing 3 goals on 28 shots. He has allowed 7 goals on 44 shots since a 31-save shutout against the Anaheim Ducks to open the month last Thursday.
Prediction
Stars 3, Senators 1
Moneyline
The Stars (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that’s too much risk for not enough reward. Even though Oettinger is solid at home, there is a lot of risk based on Talbot’s crazy road splits, too.
AVOID, and look to the puck line instead.
Puck line/Against the spread
The STARS -1.5 (+125) are worth playing on a half-unit bet. In all 14 of its wins this season, Dallas has won by 2 or more goals. So if you like the Stars to win, you should like them to cover the puck line, too.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5(-105) is a strong play in this final game of the NHL evening.
The Under has dominated for the Sens lately, going 10-2 in the last 12 games overall, and 6-0 in the last 6 games on the road. The Under is also 13-6-1 in the last 20 games against teams with a winning record, too.