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Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
Dallas rolls into Montreal aiming for a fourth straight win. You saw their resilience Tuesday when they erased a 2-0 deficit in Ottawa and won 3-2 in overtime. Jason Robertson drove the comeback with a goal and two assists, and he enters this matchup on an eight-point surge in his past six games.
Montreal leads the Atlantic but is coming off a rough 5-1 loss to the Kings. Jakub Dobes gets the net on Thursday, which was part of the team’s rotation plan. Dobes has been excellent at 6-0-1 with a .920 save rate. His last outing against Dallas was a 32-save win last season.
Both teams enter with 10 wins, but Dallas sits higher in expected-goals share and special teams performance. Montreal counters with volume offense, shot pressure, and Cole Caufield’s league-tier scoring form.
For more matchup context and past meetings, you can always reference the NHL previews section at ScoresAndStats NHL previews
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Line Movement and Odds
Using the live market from the NHL odds page the game opened:
- Opening line: Stars -110, Canadiens -105
- Current line: Stars -115, Canadiens -104
- Total: Open 6.0, still 6.0, slight juice movement toward the Over.
Market action:
Total: Over is taking more respected money due to Montreal’s recent defensive breakdowns.
Public: Leaning toward Dallas after the comeback win.
Sharps: Mild interest on Montreal at home plus the goalie matchup.
Matchup Breakdown
Stars Outlook
Dallas ranks top 5 in power play conversion and road high-danger chance rate. You should expect them to push for zone-time advantages and force Montreal’s young defense to defend at the dots. Oettinger has stabilized after a shaky start, and he owns a 5-2 record with a 2.48 GAA vs Montreal.
Wyatt Johnston enters with 10 goals, seven on the power play, giving Dallas the single biggest special-teams edge in this matchup.
Canadiens Outlook
Montreal’s best path is pace and pressure. They sit sixth in total goals scored and continue to create second-chance looks. Cole Caufield remains one of the NHL’s strongest even-strength scorers. Montreal’s top pair defends well at home, but their PK ranks bottom third and will be stressed by Dallas’ structure.
Key matchup: Dallas’ power play vs Montreal’s penalty kill. If Dallas gets three or more chances, your edge leans heavily toward their side.
Injuries and Conditions
Dallas Stars
- Jamie Benn, out, lung
- Matt Duchene, out, undisclosed
- Adam Erne, out, lower body
- Luke Krys, out, Achilles
- Nils Lundkvist, out, lower body
- Kyle McDonald, out, knee
- Chase Wheatcroft, out, wrist
Check the Stars roster page for updates at Dallas team page
Montreal Canadiens
- Kaiden Guhle, out, lower body
- Patrik Laine, out, lower body
Review the full Canadiens roster at the same NHL teams directory
Weather
Indoor venue, no weather impact.
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Best Bets and Prediction
Dallas enters 4-1 straight up in its last five, but 0-5 on the puckline. Montreal is 4-1 on the puckline and 3-0 to the Over in its last three.
Projected score: Stars 4, Canadiens 3.
Best Bet: Stars moneyline.
Secondary Lean: Over 6.0.
For more betting guidance, check the expert betting guide for NHL
ScoresAndStats Handicappers and Picks
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