The Dallas Stars take on the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of this best-of-7 series in the Western Conference semifinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Wednesday. Puck drop from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is set for 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Stars vs. Jets odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Regular-season series: Jets won 3-1

Both of these teams enter this series after dramatic, come-from-behind Game 7 victories. The Stars were down 2-0 in the third period when they scored 4 straight goals to shock the Colorado Avalanche. RW Mikko Rantanen had a hat trick to stun his former team. Even better news is there are whispers that LW Jason Robertson (lower body) is making his return Wednesday. He missed the entire first round. D Miro Heiskanen’s (knee) status remains unknown. He has been out since January.

The Jets survived a bloodbath against the St. Louis Blues as C Adam Lowry scored a deflection goal in double overtime of Game 7. They lost C Mark Scheifele (upper body) and D Josh Morrissey (upper body) in the series and had shaky goaltending but still found a way to advance. Scheifele is expected to return for Game 1, but Morrissey is not. The Jets were 4-0 at home and 0-3 on the road in the first round.

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Stars at Jets odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:40 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Stars -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Jets -105 (bet $105 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars -1.5 (+220) | Jets +1.5 (-275)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)Stars at Jets projected goalies

Jake Oettinger (4-3, 2.85 GAA, .911 SV%, in 24-25 playoffs) vs. Connor Hellebuyck (4-3, 3.85 GAA, .830 SV%, in 24-25 playoffs)

Otter was solid in his first-round matchup against Colorado. He was pelted with shots most nights, only seeing fewer than 25 shots in 1 of the 7 games. Oettinger was not the same guy on the road, going 12-11-3 with a 3.16 GAA and .896 SV% vs. 24-7-1, 2.14 GAA and .920 SV%. He struggled against Winnipeg this season, going 1-3-0 with a 3.73 GAA and .869 SV%. He allowed 4 goals in 3 of those starts.

Hellebuyck was bailed out by his team in the last series. The Blues had him on the ropes, and the Jets were able to score twice at 6-on-5 in the third to force overtime. The Jets outshot a winded Blues team 19-9 in the overtime sessions to advance. In 4 home games, he allowed 3 goals in 3 of them. Hellebuyck was great against Dallas in the regular season at 3-1-0 with a 1.01 GAA and .965 SV%.

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Stars at Jets picks and predictionsPrediction

Jets 3, Stars 2

I look for Dallas to get 1 in Winnipeg, but it’s not this one. The Stars really drew energy from the “whiteout” crowd and sucked the life out of the other team defensively. The Jets got C Gabriel Vilardi and RW Nikolaj Ehlers back last series, and they fit right back in. Getting Scheifele back in this one will provide a big boost.

Give me JETS (-105).

I’m going to skip the PL and go with CONNOR HELLEBUYCK OVER 22.5 SAVES (-115). He had 25, 24, 28 and 32 against Dallas this season. I don’t look for a high shot total, but I expect the confidence boost of advancing and the home crowd to aid the likely Vezina winner.

The Jets were in 6 Over games last series, and Dallas saw the Over cash in the last 3. I don’t think it quite gets there. These teams are beat up and are coming off of grueling series. I look for them to feel one another out. The Under has cashed in 8 consecutive head-to-head meetings.

Give me UNDER 6 (-120).

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