Oilers vs Stars Preview: Betting Perspective and Odds
Oilers Have Won Three of Last Five Head-to-Head Meetings
The Edmonton Oilers (8-4, +13 goal differential) will start the best of seven series in the Lone Star State after taking down the Pacific Division champion Vancouver Canucks 4 games to three. The Dallas Stars (8-5, +8) have made it through to the Western Conference Final after surviving a six-game series against the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights after falling behind 2-0 to begin the series and then overcoming the Colorado Avalanche after the Avs grabbed an early 1-0 series lead.
We’ve examined the series in our preview yesterday and will look at a complete statistical breakdown from a gaming perspective today. Oddsmakers have made the Stars a -130 game-one favorite with a total of 6. Game one puck drop is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5;30 p.m. PT and can be seen on TNT, truTV, and MAX. Let’s get into our Oilers vs Stars Preview.
Oilers vs Stars 
Location: American Airlines Center
Day/Time: TV & Live Stream: TNT, truTV, and MAX.
Dallas Hopes To Win First Cup Since 1999
The NHL playoff bracket is down to four teams. Of those teams, the Dallas Stars have the most scoring depth with 59 goals shared between three forwards on the Tyler Seguin third line and 27 on the Sam Steel fourth line. That angle has been well-documented but what do the betting numbers say about the series?
We’ve combined the regular season and postseason results to get our answer. Currently, the Stars are 60-35 against the moneyline, profiting 2.80 units (8th best in the NHL). When handicapping, it’s always good to put a filter on season-long numbers, making sure that results that date back to October are still relevant today.
Over the previous 30 days, Dallas is 8-5 (+1.80 units) and 18-7 (+5.67 units) over the past two months. Of the current playoff teams, only the New York Rangers have been better in that time with 7.41 units won, tops in the league. As a favorite, Pete DeBoers’ team is 53-28 (.654), only the Carolina Hurricanes have more wins (55) when favored.
Over the last 60 days, the Stars are 14-6 (70%) as a favorite and 8-5 as a home favorite. Let’s note that over the last two years, the Stars are 57-39 as a home favorite, but that has cost bettor 8.75 units. If Dallas wins game one, history tells us to tiptoe through the rest of the games at the American Airlines Center. Let’s continue our Oilers vs Stars Preview by turning our attention to Edmonton.
What A Ride It’s Been For Oilers Bettors
Wagering on Chris Knoblauch’s Edmonton Oilers is like being in a relationship with someone reliable for a week and then letting you down when you least expect it. The analogy may be a stretch but that is exactly how Edmonton Oilers backers have felt in 2023-24. Edmonton has a record of 57-37 (.606) heading into game one but is in the red for the season with 4.94 units lost, ranking them 19th against the moneyline this season.
Over the previous 60 days, the Oilers are 15-12 but 3.31 units in the hole. That’s what makes moneyline wagering difficult because we’re always tasked with the choice of betting on a team that will win over 60% of their games or against them because we know they’re overvalued on most nights. When you break down the Oilers numbers, they’ve been an underdog nine times this season, losing five times.
The bankroll for Edmonton bettors takes a massive hit on the road with 5.63 units lost despite a 25-22 overall record. Over the last 60 days, Edmonton is 15-12 overall (-3.31 units) and 0-2 as a dog, both on the road. The numbers favor the Dallas Stars in game one and the series, but be careful with leaning on history because data will only tell a bettor where a team has been not where they’re going.
Expect Equal Action For Game One
These two teams were separated by nine points in the NHL standings 2024, but our current NHL power rankings have them much closer with Dallas in the fourth spot and Edmonton at six. Teams favored between -130 and -140 are 3-4 in the postseason but 14-11 over the last three postseasons. If we expand that to the regular season, we find a jump in win percentage to .565 behind a record of 274-211.
Dallas has been especially good in this role with a three-year record of 14-8 (.673) and a five-year mark of 21-11 (.656). Edmonton was 1-2 this season when an underdog of +110 to +120 and 7-10 (-1.93 units) since the 2021 season. With our official selection, we’re laying the -130 with the Dallas Stars in game one. That does it for our Oilers vs Stars preview, all the best with your NHL picks and parlays.
Oilers vs Stars Odds
For NHL standings, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
