Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Dallas Stars Prediction, NHL Odds
The Maple Leafs arrive in Dallas riding a two-game win streak after skating to a 4-1 win in Washington on Tuesday, and have now claimed victory in nine of their past 11 overall road contests. The Stars return home as one of just four NHL teams that has avoided a regulation loss this season after tallying a 4-1 win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.
The Stars edge out the Leafs as -125 favourites on the Thursday NHL odds, while Toronto lags at +105, and as a -225 puck line to cover a +1.5-goal spread. The total sits at 6.5, with the UNDER sporting -120 odds.
Maple Leafs vs. Stars NHL Betting Odds
Thursday’s matchup marks the first of two scheduled meetings between these teams this season. The Leafs swept last season’s two-game series with the Stars, capped by a 4-0 win in Dallas on December 6, and have earned the win in 16 of 20 overall head-to-head clashes since 2009. Overall, Toronto has limited the Stars to just five total goals while winning their past four meetings, and have not given up more than three goals to Dallas in each of their past seven contests, with the UNDER going 5-2 over that stretch
Toronto Maple Leafs
After peppering goaltender Jonas Johansson with 52 shots in a 4-3 overtime win in Tampa Bay on Saturday night, Leafs shooters struggled to find the target in Washington, mustering just 17 shots. But that was all they needed to get past a beleaguered Capitals squad in Tuesday’s 4-1 victory. Auston Matthews once again captured headlines by potting his seventh goal of the season, and added his first assist of the season. William Nylander continued to put pressure on team management in their ongoing contract negotiations by scoring for a second straight game to maintain a share of the team lead with 10 points, and has now recorded seven goals and 13 points during a nine-game points streak that dates back to last spring’s playoffs. Nylander has recorded an assist in all but one appearance so far this season, and is an attractive +200 bet on the NHL player props to add another helper on Thursday. Joseph Woll turned in a second straight winning performance between the pipes, considering this team’s struggles to maintain a consistent attack versus lowly Washington.
Dallas Stars
For the second time in three games, the Stars stumbled out of the gate in Tuesday’s date with the Penguins, spotting Pittsburgh a 1-0 first-period lead before steadily taking control on their way to a 4-1 win. Overall, the Stars have managed to score in the opening frame in just one of their first five contests, and saw three of their first four games get settled in overtime or by shootout. Indeed, the Stars have managed to avoid losing in 60 minutes despite getting outshot in each of their five outings during a 4-0-1 start. However, the club’s shooters have started to heat up, scoring nine goals in the past two games and potting just six total goals over their first three contests. Joe Pavelski has emerged as a consistent offensive threat in the early going, and has picked up three goals and six points during a four-game points streak. Most important for this team has been the play of goalie Jake Oettinger, who has surrendered just six goals during his 3-0-1 start. However, the Stars have suffered shutout defeats Oettinger’s two previous starts against Toronto.
