The Dallas Stars (0-0-0) and Winnipeg Jets (0-0-0) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. EDT at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Stars are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-115o / -105u). The Stars are a -115 favorite to win outright, while the Jets are -105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Stars vs. Jets predictions and NHL picks.
Stars vs. Jets Odds, Pick
| Stars Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +230 | 5.5 -115o / -105u | -115 |
| Jets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -280 | 5.5 -115o / -105u | -105 |
- Stars vs. Jets Spread: Stars -1.5 (+230), Jets +1.5 (-280)
- Stars vs. Jets Over/Under: 5.5 (-115o / -105u)
- Stars vs. Jets Moneyline: Stars -115, Jets -105
Stars vs. Jets Preview
There’s no better way to kick off a season than to have two Central Division juggernauts go at it for their first games.
Last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Jets, will be missing a couple of key components to start the season.
Captain Adam Lowry is still recovering from offseason hip surgery, while Cole Perfetti is currently week-to-week with an ankle injury. Not only that, Jonathan Toews made his return to the NHL as a member of the Jets, but his status is still up in the air after suffering an injury in the preseason.
On top of all of that, Winnipeg will have to figure out life without Nikolaj Ehlers, who went to the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency.
General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had to get creative with who he brought in, like Gustav Nyquist and Tanner Pearson.
Winnipeg will continue to roll out a strong back end with some of the finest defensemen in the league, including Josh Morrissey and Dylan Samberg, covering for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck was the premier athlete in the NHL in the 2024-25 campaign, capturing not just the Vezina for the third time in his career, but the Hart Trophy as well.
He was a total mutant last season, with a .925 SV% and a league-leading 39.6 GSAx.
For Dallas, it’s a bit complicated. The future Stanley Cup window is still wide open, but I genuinely wonder how the Stars are going to keep superstar sniper Jason Robertson.
The salary cap is rising, but Robertson is likely going to want more than what Mikko Rantanen is making, which is $12 million per year.
Regardless, the Stars are still an overwhelming favorite to come out of the West this season, especially after canning Pete DeBoer after the disaster-class that was the Conference Finals against the Oilers.
This gives Glen Gulutzan a shot to be the head honcho again, which I think is the right time. Gulutzan coached the Stars in the early 2010s and it was an underwhelming performance.
But after years of being an assistant, there may be a chance for redemption here.
At bet365, they’re tied for second with the Colorado Avalanche at +450 to win the West behind the Edmonton Oilers. And if you ask me, I think Dallas has a better shot at least than Colorado (something to think about if you want a futures bet).
Stars vs. Jets Prediction
Winnipeg has definitely taken a step back this season, which is unfortunate given all of its success last year.
Being unable to replace Ehlers is going to hurt, as his speed was one of the parts of his game that made the Jets lethal. Perhaps that opens the door for rookie Brad Lambert, but I don’t even think he starts tonight.
Dallas is more polished.
And given the way he ended the season, Rantanen may be poised for his best season yet, which is scary given that he’s a former 50-goal scorer. There’s a reason why people call him “Moose.” He’s built like a freight train with the vision of Adam Oates and a shot like Marian Hossa. Purely unstoppable.
If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have made the Stars only slight favorites here to win outright, but since they are, we’re taking advantage of it.
The Jets are a good team, but I’m not crazy about their bottom-six, especially with Lowry being out.
Pick: Stars ML -115
