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The Dallas Stars host the St. Louis Blues tonight at the American Airlines Center in a Central Division clash that features two teams heading in completely different directions. Dallas enters this Wednesday night tilt on a five-game winning streak, having found the physical edge and defensive structure that eluded them during a mid-winter slump. The Stars are 33-14-9 and sitting firmly in third place in the division, looking to take care of business at 8:30 p.m. local time before the league shifts into the Olympic break.
St. Louis, on the other hand, is reeling after losing seven of its last eight contests. The Blues currently sit at 20-27-9 and are coming off a particularly dispiriting 6-5 loss in Nashville where they blew a four-goal lead. While their offense has finally shown signs of life by putting up 20 goals over the last five games, their defensive lapses and goaltending struggles have made it nearly impossible to stack wins. They have already lost to Dallas twice in the last two weeks, and a third straight defeat to their rivals would be a grim way to enter the long layoff.
The betting market has installed Dallas as a heavy home favorite at -225 on the moneyline, reflecting the massive gap in recent form. The total is set at 5.5 goals, which feels low considering how porous the Blues have been lately and how high-powered the Stars’ top lines are playing. With TNT providing a national audience, expect the Stars to try and put this one away early and avoid any late-game drama against a desperate opponent.
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Dallas Stars vs St. Louis Blues Odds
The odds for this divisional matchup have seen the Stars move even further into favorite territory as puck drop nears. It is always a good idea to monitor the latest NHL odds to see if any late goalie confirmations or roster moves shift the line toward the underdog.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
| Dallas Stars | -225 | -1.5 (+120) | O 5.5 (-130) |
| St. Louis Blues | +185 | +1.5 (-142) | U 5.5 (+110) |
Dallas Stars Betting Form
Dallas has seemingly solved the issues that saw them win just three times in a 14-game span earlier this year. The catalyst has been the return of their physical identity and the stellar play of Jake Oettinger in net. Oettinger has won his last five starts and seems to have found his rhythm at the perfect time. The Stars’ offense is also firing on all cylinders, led by Matt Duchene who has seven points in his last five games and Jason Robertson who continues to be a consistent threat on the top line.
Depth scoring has been another major factor for the Stars during this run. Defenseman Thomas Harley has been jumping into the play effectively, evidenced by his overtime winner against Winnipeg on Monday. Dallas is currently clicking at nearly 30% on the power play, which is a nightmare matchup for a St. Louis penalty kill that has been struggling. You can track their season-long trends on the Dallas Stars schedule and stats page.
On the injury front, Dallas is still missing some key pieces in the lineup. Tyler Seguin remains a significant absence on the forward corps, and the blue line has had to adjust without Lian Bichsel. Before betting the puck line, it is worth checking the Dallas Stars injury report to ensure no new depth players were shaken up during the physical overtime win against the Jets.
St. Louis Blues Betting Form
The Blues are in a dark place after their collapse in Nashville. Leading 5-1 and losing in regulation is the type of result that can break a locker room, especially during a season where wins have been hard to come by. Jim Montgomery was blunt about his team’s lack of confidence with the puck, noting that once things started to snowball, they didn’t have the mental toughness to stop it. Despite the losses, Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich have been productive, each recording eight points over their last five and six games, respectively.
The problem in St. Louis isn’t scoring; it’s preventing it. Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer have both been under siege, and the team’s defensive structure has been nonexistent at times. They are giving up far too many high-danger chances at 5-on-5, and their road record of 7-16-3 suggests they struggle significantly when they don’t have the last change. Check out the St. Louis Blues stats and results to see the full extent of their recent road woes.
Injuries have decimated the Blues’ center depth and defensive core. Losing Robert Thomas to a leg injury was a massive blow, and the absence of veteran Torey Krug on the back end has left them young and inexperienced in key situations. I highly recommend looking at the St. Louis Blues injury report to see if any of their “day-to-day” players are making a surprise return, as they desperately need a veteran presence to stabilize the lineup.
Dallas Stars vs St. Louis Blues Matchup Breakdown
This game is a collision between the league’s most efficient power play and one of its most vulnerable defensive units. Dallas has the ability to exploit the Blues’ lack of discipline and poor gap control. If St. Louis gets into penalty trouble, this game could get out of hand quickly. The Stars have also been dominant in the faceoff circle, which allows them to control the pace of play and tire out the Blues’ thin defensive pairings.
Pace of play will be everything tonight. St. Louis has been involved in several high-scoring track meets lately, largely because they can’t stop anyone but can still score on the counter-attack. Dallas is much more comfortable in a structured, low-event game, but they have shown they are happy to trade chances if the opponent’s goaltending is weak.
- Dallas has won six of its last seven against St. Louis.
- The Blues have conceded 195 goals this season, ranking near the bottom of the league.
- Dallas is 15-7-3 on home ice this year.
- St. Louis has scored 20 goals in its last five games despite a 1-4-0 record.
Bettors looking for an edge on the total should visit an NHL betting guide to understand how teams perform in the final game before a long break. Historically, these “look ahead” spots can lead to looser defensive play as players mentally prepare for their vacations. You can also find more advanced NHL betting strategies that break down divisional rivalries in the second half of the season.
Dallas Stars vs St. Louis Blues Predictions and Best Bets
I find it very difficult to trust St. Louis in this spot. Their psychological state after the Nashville loss has to be fragile, and going into Dallas to face a red-hot rival is a massive mountain to climb. The Stars have already beaten them twice recently, and they have the offensive depth to punish the Blues’ mistakes. I think the puck line is the play here, as Dallas shouldn’t have much trouble winning this by two or more goals if they stick to their game plan.
Regarding the total, the 5.5 feels like a gift. St. Louis is giving up goals in bunches, and their own offense has actually been quite lively. Even if Dallas plays a tight defensive game, the Blues’ inability to clear the zone will likely lead to enough Stars goals to push this over the number. Perhaps St. Louis keeps it close for a period, but the talent gap should eventually take over.
I’m laying the goals with the home team. Dallas is motivated to close out this stretch on a high note and keep pace in the Central Division standings. St. Louis looks like a team that is ready for the break to start right now.
Best Bet: Dallas Stars puck line -1.5 (+120).
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NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
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