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The Dallas Stars head to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+). On paper, it’s a matchup of two teams that still profile like contenders. In the market, it’s a short price on the home side and a pretty normal total for two clubs that can both score.
Dallas comes in at 25-9-8, but the vibe is different right now. They’ve dropped five straight, and even when the offense shows up, the details have been messy. Carolina is 25-14-3 and trying to get back to repeatable hockey after a rocky stretch, but they did look more like themselves last time out. This one matters because both teams are sitting near the top of their conferences, and a win here is the kind that can snap a trend instead of just padding points.
The early handicap for bettors is pretty simple: Dallas has the higher-end scoring ceiling and an elite power play, while Carolina tends to win games with pace, shot volume, and structure. If the Hurricanes get the goaltending they need, they can keep this in their game. If they don’t, Dallas has the finishing talent to punish any looseness.
Dallas Stars vs Carolina Hurricanes Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers leading up to puck drop. For the latest NHL odds, check the live board on the ScoresAndStats NHL odds page.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Stars | +110 | +1.5 (-218) | O 6.5 (-105) |
| Carolina Hurricanes | -130 | -1.5 (+180) | U 6.5 (-115) |
Dallas Stars Betting Form
Dallas has been in a weird spot. The record says elite, but this current stretch says fragile. They’re still getting offense, and the top-end talent is absolutely real, yet the five-game skid has come with too many moments where they look like they’re chasing the game instead of dictating it. If you’re betting Dallas, you’re basically betting that their finishing and special teams travel, and that they can get back to cleaner 5-on-5 shifts without taking extra penalties.
The Stars’ power play is the biggest betting lever in this matchup. When they’re drawing calls and setting up, they can flip a game fast. That’s also why I’m a little cautious laying plus money on their moneyline if the game is likely to be tight at even strength. The better Dallas angles tend to be either the +1.5 (if you expect a one-goal game) or looking at game flow for a live entry if Carolina controls early.
If you want a deeper snapshot of how Dallas has been trending, their Dallas Stars stats and results page is the cleanest place to track the underlying splits.
| Player | Pos | Status | Injury | Timetable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Benn | LW | Out | Upper body | Expected back around Jan 10 |
| Lian Bichsel | D | IR | Lower body | Longer-term |
| Tyler Seguin | C | IR | Knee | Long-term |
Availability matters here, so monitor the Dallas Stars injury report before puck drop.
Carolina Hurricanes Betting Form
Carolina’s form has been less dramatic than Dallas’, but it hasn’t been smooth either. When the Hurricanes are right, they win with pace and volume. They play in the offensive zone, they stack shots, and they force you to defend for long stretches. That style usually shows up strongest at home, and it’s also why Carolina is often priced as a favorite even against top teams. The question is finishing and goaltending stability, because their game can look great for long stretches and still get undermined by a couple of bad minutes.
Special teams matter more than usual in this matchup because Dallas can punish you on the power play, and Carolina’s penalty kill has to be sharp. If the Hurricanes stay disciplined and keep Dallas to a limited number of clean looks, they’re in a strong position to control the 5-on-5 portion of the game. If they get loose with sticks and hooks, it gets uncomfortable fast.
You can track how Carolina has performed across home/road splits on the Carolina Hurricanes schedule and stats page.
| Player | Pos | Status | Injury | Timetable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seth Jarvis | C | IR | Ribs | Possibly returns around Jan 6 |
| Jaccob Slavin | D | IR | Upper body | Possibly returns around Jan 6 |
| Pyotr Kochetkov | G | IR | Lower body | Out long-term |
| Charles-Alexis Legault | D | IR | Hand | Longer-term |
Because Carolina’s lineup can shift quickly, keep an eye on the Carolina Hurricanes injury report heading into the start.
Dallas Stars vs Carolina Hurricanes Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is going to come down to who dictates the middle of the ice. Carolina wants speed through the neutral zone and sustained zone time. Dallas is more comfortable letting skill solve problems, and they can absolutely win a game where they don’t “own” play if they finish chances and cash special teams.
Goaltending is also a big part of the handicap, and it’s not fully locked in early. Jake Oettinger is projected for Dallas and Brandon Bussi is projected for Carolina, but both were listed as unconfirmed earlier in the day. If that changes, it can move both the side and the total quickly.
A few edges that matter for betting:
- Carolina’s shot volume can tilt this into a Hurricanes-style game if Dallas doesn’t break pressure cleanly.
- Dallas’ power play is the clearest single-game mismatch if whistles pile up.
- If Carolina’s blue line is missing key minutes, Dallas’ finishing becomes more valuable than the price suggests.
If you want a sharper framework for weighing pace, special teams, and goalie-driven swings, the ScoresAndStats NHL betting guide is worth using for matchup process instead of just betting on vibes.
Dallas Stars vs Carolina Hurricanes Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is Carolina on the moneyline. Not because Dallas can’t win, they can, but because the current form gap is real and Carolina’s style is the kind that can suffocate a team that’s pressing. At -130, you’re paying for the home side, but you’re also buying a team that usually generates the better 5-on-5 workload and can keep Dallas’ top line shifts shorter if they forecheck with purpose.
I’m also looking at Dallas +1.5 as the “I don’t hate it” option if you’re skeptical of Carolina’s goaltending. That’s the tension in this handicap. Carolina can be the better team for long stretches, and Dallas can still steal it with special teams and finishing. If this is tied late, +1.5 covers a lot of the most realistic scripts.
On the total, I lean Under 6.5 more than Over. It feels a little counterintuitive because both teams have scoring, but this game can get controlled quickly if Carolina plays the way they want and Dallas stays out of the box. If the projected starters hold and Carolina doesn’t melt down in transition, 6.5 is a big number to clear without a special teams spike.
Best Bet: Carolina Hurricanes moneyline (-130).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting NHL regularly, the biggest edge is having volume and accountability in your process, not just picking one game you feel good about. ScoresAndStats keeps everything in one place, from today’s NHL picks to full matchup coverage, so you’re not guessing where the market is heading. The NHL preview hub is also useful when you want to compare multiple games on the slate without bouncing between sites.
The other piece is transparency. You can sort through proven results on the top sports handicappers page, then verify performance week to week on the handicapper leaderboard. Different bettors play different styles, totals, sides, props, and it helps to see who’s actually beating the market instead of just posting hot takes.
If you want more aggressive action beyond freebies, premium NHL picks are available through the buy page, and it pairs well with longer-range angles like the Stanley Cup betting guide when you’re thinking futures alongside nightly card builds.
