The St. Louis Blues (20-26-9) and Dallas Stars (32-14-9) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. EST at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Stars are favored by 1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-105o / -115u). The Stars are a -220 favorite to win outright, while the Blues are +180 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Blues vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks.
Blues vs. Stars Odds, Pick
| Blues Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -140 | 6 -105o / -115u | +180 |
| Stars Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +120 | 6 -105o / -115u | -220 |
- Blues vs. Stars Spread: Blues +1.5 (-140), Stars -1.5 (+120)
- Blues vs. Stars Over/Under: 6 (-105o / -115u)
- Blues vs. Stars Moneyline: Blues +180, Stars -220
Blues vs. Stars Preview
St Louis Blues
The Blues enter this matchup having lost seven of their last eight games, though the skid hasn’t been as lopsided as the record suggests. Outside of a 5–0 loss to Edmonton that started the slide, the other six defeats have been competitive. Four came by a single score — including one in a shootout — while the other two were two-goal losses sealed by empty-netters.
That said, St. Louis is coming off a particularly deflating defeat on Monday in Nashville. The Blues built a 5–1 lead in the second period, only to watch it evaporate as they surrendered five unanswered goals, three of which came in the third.
Offense hasn’t been the issue of late. St. Louis has scored 20 goals over its last five games, with Jordan Kyrou accounting for eight points during that stretch. Instead, defensive breakdowns and shaky goaltending have been the culprit. The margin for error shrinks with the absence of Robert Thomas, who leads the team with 33 points and will be sidelined until after the Olympic break following a minor leg procedure.
In net, Jordan Binnington has been one of the league’s most ineffective goaltenders this season. He ranks dead last in GSAx at -24.4, while posting a 3.60 GAA and an .866 save percentage.
The Blues have rotated between Binnington and Joel Hofer, so I would guess Binnington gets the start here after a 5–1 lead against Nashville slipped away under Hofer in the last game. Neither goalie is confirmed to start as of this writing.
Dallas Stars
This matchup follows what seems to be a familiar trend recently, with one of the league’s hottest teams meeting one of its coldest. The Stars enter riding a five-game winning streak and have won six of their last seven.
That surge comes after dropping 10 of their previous 12 games — part of a season-long pattern of ups and downs.
A key factor in their recent success has been the resurgence of Matt Duchene. Following a lengthy absence from a serious concussion, Duchene seems to have found his footing, riding a five-game point streak with five goals and seven points during the Stars’ current winning streak.
Meanwhile, Jake Oettinger has somewhat mirrored the team’s inconsistency but has been solid overall. He had a really strong December, posting a 1.98 GAA and a .929 save percentage. However, it’s been a different story in the new year, as he’s struggled to a 3.15 GAA and .871 save percentage across 11 starts.
Casey DeSmith, on the other hand, has been more than serviceable in a backup role. He ranks inside the top 10 in GSAx (11.7) while carrying a 2.37 GAA this season. It’s still unclear who will get the start tonight, though Oettinger drew the most recent one.
Blues vs. Stars Prediction
These teams have met twice in the past two weeks, and both games were close contests despite the Blues sitting at the bottom of the Central Division while the Stars fight for second place behind Colorado.
The -220 moneyline isn’t appealing to pay on Dallas, and I’ve been hesitant to take the puck line against St. Louis. They’ve covered seven of their last 10 games as underdogs, including against some quality opponents like Carolina, Tampa Bay, and the Stars twice.
Still, this feels like a spot where Dallas can eventually separate. The Stars have the deeper lineup, are playing their best hockey in weeks, and should be able to capitalize if St. Louis’ defensive issues resurface.
I’ll take my chances with the better team and look for a late empty-netter to seal it if this turns into another close contest.
Pick: Stars -1.5 (+120)
