April 27, 2026, 10:51 p.m. ET

The  Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars meet Tuesday in Game 5 of their best-of-7, Western Conference first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Puck drop at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN 2). Let’s analyze NHL odds around the Wild vs. Stars odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Best-of-7 series: Tied 2-2

The Wild evened the series with a 3-2 overtime win Saturday as -126 favorites with the Under (6) cashing. LW Matt Boldy netted the winner with 28 second left in the first overtime after LW Marcus Foligno forced extra time with a gritty tip-in, helping Minnesota bounce back after a tough 4-3 double-overtime loss in Game 3.

Special teams continue to be a strength for the Stars, as LW Jason Robertson and D Miro Heiskanen scored on both of their power-play chances in regulation, pushing Dallas to 8 for 19 in the series. The penalty kill has also held firm, allowing just 1 goal over the last 15 opportunities. G Jake Oettinger turned aside 40 shots in the losing effort.

Watch the NHL on Fubo!Wild at Stars odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 10:49 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Wild +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Stars -130 (bet $130 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Wild +1.5 (-225) | Stars -1.5 (+185)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)Wild at Stars projected goalies

Jesper Wallstedt (18-9-6, 2.61 GAA, .915 SV%, 4 SO) vs. Jake Oettinger (35-12-6, 2.62 GAA, .899 SV%, 4 SO)

Wallstedt was outstanding in Game 4, stopping 43 of 45 shots in the win. He’s now 2-2 this postseason with a 2.06 GAA and .929 SV%, continuing his strong play in net.

Oettinger dropped Game 4 after facing 43 shots and allowing 3 goals. He’s now 2-2 this postseason with a 2.69 GAA and .902 SV%. His career playoff mark sits at 34-32 with a 2.57 GAA and .912 SV%.

Wild at Stars picks and predictionsPrediction

Stars 4, Wild 2

PASS.

It’s perfectly fine to take Dallas (-130) to win outright, but I’d rather take the shot on the puck line with a chance to nearly double-up.

BET STARS -1.5 (+185).

A return to home ice sets up well for the Stars in Game 5. Dallas has been one of the top teams in the league all season and has consistently played its best in its own building.

Even in the Game 4 loss, the Stars controlled large portions of play, including a dominant stretch in the second period where they generated far more scoring chances. The top group of Robertson, C Matt Duchene and C Mavrik Bourque continues to tilt the ice and create quality looks.

Dallas’ power play has also been a major factor in the series, converting at an elite rate. Meanwhile, Minnesota needed overtime to even the series and has spent long stretches defending.

With the series tied and momentum shifting back to Dallas, the Stars are in a strong position to take control and win by multiple goals.

LEAN OVER 5.5 (-120).

The numbers have hovered right around 6 goals in this series with mixed results and even a push. There’s a slight lean Over, but go lightly as it’s too inconsistent to trust.

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

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