The Montreal Canadiens (22-13-6) visit the Dallas Stars (25-9-7) in a Sunday matinee at the American Airlines Center. The second Habs-Stars meeting of the season is tabbed with a 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+) start time. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Canadiens vs. Stars odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Dallas leads 1-0 with a 7-0 road win Nov. 13
Montreal is closing out a lengthy stretch of road games by playing on a second straight day and for a third time in the last 4 days. On Saturday, the +140 Canadiens lost to the St. Louis Blues 2-0 (Under 6). Sunday’s tussle in the Lone Star State marks Montreal’s seventh straight game on road ice. The club is thus far 3-1-2 across that stretch.
The Stars are back at home after a single-game road trip. On Thursday, -185 Dallas lost 4-3 (Over 5.5) at the Chicago Blackhawks. The Central Division’s second-place club heads into this contest looking to snap a 4-game losing streak (0-2-2).
Canadiens at Stars odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:28 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Canadiens +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Stars -200 (bet $200 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canadiens +1.5 (-145) | Stars -1.5 (+120)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Canadiens at Stars projected goalies
Jakub Dobes (13-5-3, 3.01 GAA, .889 SV%) vs. Jake Oettinger (16-7-3, 2.57 GAA, .907 SV%)
Dobes last played on Thursday, allowing 5 goals in a win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 24-year-old would be looking for a rebound against these Stars: Dallas got to him for 5 goals on 13 shots in 40 minutes in a 7-0 win in Montreal Nov. 13.
Oettinger went the route in Thursday’s setback in Chicago; he allowed 4 goals on 21 shots. He’s 5-2 with a 2.48 GAA in 7 starts against Montreal.
Canadiens at Stars picks and predictionsPrediction
Canadiens 4, Stars 3
Prior to Saturday, Montreal had scored 4.43 goals per game over its previous 7 contests. The Canadiens won at Dallas last January and have taken 3 of the last 4 series meetings at the American Airlines Center. The last time they played 3 games in 4 days they closed out the stretch with a 6-2 win (Dec. 23), and Montreal is a solid 12-4-5 across 21 road games.
Dallas has possession, shot and expected-goal metrics that fall short in justifying its .695 points percentage. The Stars have an excellent power play (29.8%, third NHL) but it’s one that has gone just 4-for-its-last-24. Dallas has been outshot in 4 of its last 5 games and over a stretch twice as long has been allowing an uptick in high-danger looks.
BACK MONTREAL (+165).
No interest; PASS.
The Over is 4-2 across Montreal’s last 6 games and 5-1-1 in Dallas’ last 7.
Season 5-on-5 expected-goal numbers are bearish on the Dallas defense. Over the last few weeks, those same numbers would say the Habs’ goals and goals-allowed averages are both artificially tamped down. In terms of high-danger shots allowed, both Montreal and Dallas have second-division averages over their last 10 games.
That all spells a lean on the OVER 6.5 (-105).
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