Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers: NHL Odds, Prediction

Ricky Rothstein
Last Updated: November 6, 2017

The Edmonton Oilers have been big disappointments in the season’s early going but perhaps could start to take off Thursday because they begin a five-game homestand against the Dallas Stars in their only visit of the season.

Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers

When: Thursday, 9 p.m. ET
Where: Rogers Place
Moneylines: Oilers -135, Stars +122 (5.5)

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

First of three meetings between the teams. Edmonton goes to Dallas on Nov. 18 and Jan. 6. Last season, the Oilers won two of the three in the series, including a 7-1 rout in the most recent meeting at Rogers Place.

Connor McDavid led the Oilers with five points (4G, 1A) in 2016-17 against the Stars. Tyler Pitlick, Oscar Klefbom and Patrick Maroon each chipped in two goals. Pitlick signed with Dallas on a three-year deal this past offseason. His eight goals last year marked a career high. Cam Talbot was in net for all three games for the Oilers and had a 2.03 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. Patrick Eaves (2G, 1A) and Jamie Benn (1G, 2A) led the Stars with three points each. Kari Lehtonen was 1-1-0 with a 4.18 GAA and .875 save percentage. He’s now the backup on the team to offseason acquisition Ben Bishop.

The home team has won five of the past seven in the series. The under is 7-2-2 in the past 11 in Edmonton.

Dallas Stars

The Stars (5-4-0) had a four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday at Colorado, 5-3, as they started a four-game road trip. Bishop was pulled early in the second period after allowing three goals on 17 shots. Lehtonen allowed one on 15 shots in relief. Stars coach Ken Hitchcock originally planned to start Bishop in Edmonton and then Lehtonen on Friday in Calgary, but it’s not clear if Tuesday’s developments might have changed that rotation. Jamie Benn was the No. 2 star vs. Colorado with a goal and two assists – he leads the team with 11 points (5G, 6A). Brett Ritchie and John Klingberg also scored, and Tyler Seguin had two assists. He has eight points (4G, 4A) during a five-game point streak.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers (2-5-1) played one of the biggest games on their schedule Tuesday night and lost 2-1 in overtime at the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins – the third Edmonton game in a row that ended in a 2-1 score. Phil Kessel beat Cam Talbot 42 seconds into the OT for the Pittsburgh victory. Talbot deserved better in making 42 saves on the night. McDavid ended a six-game goal drought by tying it 1-1 at 17:07 of the third period. Tuesday also saw the return to the lineup of winger Leon Draisaitl, who had missed the previous four with a concussion. He played 16:29 and had one shot.