The Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets meet in an opening night matchup Thursday. Puck drop from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is scheduled for 8 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.

2024-25 regular-season series: Jets won 3-1; Stars won playoff series 4-2

The Stars lost 3 of the 4 meetings with the Jets in the regular season, but Dallas had the last laugh with a win in 6 games against Winnipeg in a playoff series. Top to bottom, the Stars might have one of the better offenses in the NHL. RW Mikko Rantanen begins his first full season in Big D, and he is expected to skate on the top line with LW Roope Hintz and C Sam Steel.

Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck led the Jets to the Presidents’ Trophy last season, an award for the team with the most points during the regular season. Winnipeg won the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history, going 56-22-4 with a 116 points and a plus-86 goal differential. The goal differential was the best in the NHL, too.

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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 6:33 a.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 (-275) | Jets -1.5 (+225)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Stars at Jets projected goalies

Jake Oettinger (36-18-4, 2.59 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO in 2024-25) vs. Connor Hellebuyck (47-12-3, 2.01 GAA, .925 SV%, 8 SO in 2024-25 regular season)

While Oettinger had strong numbers, and he led the Stars to the playoff series win over the Jets, he struggled on the road in the regular season. Oettinger was just 12-11-3 with a 3.16 GAA and .896 SV% in 26 starts away from home in 2024-25.

Hellebuyck was fabulous last season, but especially so at Canada Life Centre. He finished the regular season 27-3-3 with a 1.63 GAA, .938 SV% and 6 shutouts at home, and he led the Jets to an impressive 3-1 record over the Stars in the regular season, while posting a 1.01 GAA and .965 SV% in 4 starts.

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Stars at Jets picks and predictionsPrediction

Jets 3, Stars 2

The JETS (-105) are worth a look as short ‘dogs in the home opener. While Winnipeg lost LW Nikolaj Ehlers to Carolina, it still has Hellebuyck, and as long as he is the backstop for the Jets, Winnipeg has a fighting chance in any game it plays.

The Stars have a star-studded offense, and they won in the postseason against the Jets, but Dallas has to prove it can beat Hellebuyck in Winnipeg in the regular season. Until the Stars start to do that regularly, take the home team.

The Stars +1.5 (-275) will cost you 3 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for a little bit of insurance. Winnipeg outscored Dallas 13-5 in the regular season series, with the Jets winning by 3 or more goals in each of the victories. However, with Ehlers gone, Winnipeg’s offense might struggle to find its footing.

PASS.

UNDER 5.5 (-105) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.

The Under cashed in all 4 meetings in the regular season, while going 9-1 in the past 10 meetings since Nov. 9, 2024. The losing team in the 10 games last season in the regular season and the playoffs managed 1 or no goals in 8 of the meetings.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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