Oilers vs. Stars Betting Preview, Prediction

Oilers Continue to Show Defensive Lapses

NHL betting odds show the Stars a -145 favorite at home against the Edmonton Oilers whose offense once again shows up in most NHL team stats categories. Dallas has won five of their last seven games after squeezing by Columbus, 2-1, Monday.

Edmonton has failed to show a profit for their backers and has lost three of their last four games, including a horrific loss to the Anaheim Ducks four days ago as a -330 favorite. Let’s continue our Oilers vs. Stars betting preview by taking a closer look at each team.

For a team that is constantly touted as the team with the most talent in the Western Conference, they sure spend a lot of time digging themselves out of deep holes from year to year. Of their last 10 NHL matchups where they were favored to win, the Oilers lost five including three times as a -140 favorite or more. They have lost three of their last four games as a favorite in four. Championship teams don’t play well enough to win against the poor teams of the league, they annihilate clubs like the Ducks.

Edmonton is 17th in our recent power NHL rankings after dropping out of the top half over the last week. Sometimes you can’t put a finger on why, and when that happens, the only word to describe a team with talent but can’t rely on to put your money behind, and that’s desire. A good stat to measure work ethic and desire is five-on-five goals.

With the Oilers owning almost 56% of the 5 x 5 goal share last season, versus 46.9% this season, we have a clear indication of Edmonton’s appetite for greatness.

Let’s continue our Oilers vs Stars betting preview by turning our attention to Dallas.

Stars Back Home After Fruitful Road Trip

Bettors know that it’s always good to take a step back when a team returns home from a road trip, especially trips that were as successful as the five gamer the Dallas Stars just completed. The Stars were 3-1-1 on the trip while losing once by a goal to start the trip in Pittsburgh.

You could even say that the win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Monday, was one of the most impressive because it could have easily been a mail-it-in game with a .500 trip already achieved. The 2-1 win showed the meddle that Edmonton has yet to develop.

As for a potential letdown after being on the road for ten days, the numbers don’t support it. Dallas is 8-3 after a road trip of seven or more games, adding to an impressive 37-18 home record over their last 55.

Edmonton has lost 34 of their last 45 decisions in Dallas and 62 of their last 90 overall head-to-head. It’s unlikely that the Oilers will find their identity in the Lonestar State.

Let’s continue our Oilers vs Stars betting preview by looking at what the betting public is putting their money behind early on.

Cash Trickles in on Stars, Under

So far, the betting public is confused about what to do with the side and total. The consensus send out was Dallas -144, a number that has been slowly inflated to -146 because the Oilers are a public team even though they will likely prove to be the wrong side.

The under 6.5 offers a very small plus number at some places, with a small majority grabbing that opportunity. The moneyline is where most of the movement is featured after the Oilers (+1.5) has been bet up from -188 to -196.

To conclude our Oilers vs Stars betting preview we recommend a small play on the Dallas Stars. The numbers that were mentioned in their section of the preview give us enough confidence that they’ll come out swinging after a road trip that can leave some teams flat.

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