Dallas beat Columbus 3–1 on Saturday, then needed six goals to get past Washington. The Blue Jackets answered their loss to the Stars by scoring seven against Colorado. Thursday’s rematch brings together two teams that just found plenty of offense, but Dallas’s narrow escape also showed why a scoring burst can leave a favorite with work to do.
Dallas built a cushion, then nearly lost it
Jason Robertson scored three straight goals in 5:20 early in the second period against the Capitals, putting Dallas ahead 4–0. Washington got back within one before the Stars finished a 6–5 win. Two Capitals power-play goals helped turn that big Dallas lead into a game again.
At Thursday morning’s snapshot, DraftKings had Dallas at -130 and Columbus at +110. Our shot projections give the Blue Jackets a small edge, about 28 to the Stars’ 26. Dallas has shown it can score in a hurry through Robertson and Mikko Rantanen, who also scored in Washington. Columbus’s chance is to generate enough offense of its own to make the Stars keep answering.
Columbus found goals throughout the lineup
Charlie Coyle had two goals and two assists in the 7–2 win over Colorado, and six Blue Jackets scored. Zach Werenski and Kent Johnson helped set up Coyle’s first goal, a tip-in, before he added another with a wrist shot in the third. Mathieu Olivier had put Columbus ahead just 28 seconds into the game. That spread of scorers gave the Jackets several ways to build on their early lead.
Miro Heiskanen is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, according to Wednesday’s Stars announcement reported by Mike Heika of the team’s official site. His availability remains uncertain. He is listed alongside Esa Lindell in the matchup’s defensive pairs, so his status matters as Dallas prepares for a Columbus team coming off production throughout its lineup.
Sharpest Bets Premium
Get our Stars vs. Blue Jackets picks.
Unlock our model's best bets for this matchup, plus projections, trends, and matchup analysis. Start with a free 7-day trial, then save 20% every month with code PREVIEW20.
The last meeting is a counterweight at 5.5
Saturday’s four-goal game offers a different picture from Tuesday’s wins at Thursday’s 5.5 total. Jake Oettinger stopped 24 of 25 Columbus shots in that meeting. Across his last five appearances, though, he stopped 86.1%, including five goals allowed against Washington. He is listed as a possible starter, with Jet Greaves listed for Columbus and neither confirmed. Greaves stopped 89.7% across his last five appearances, including one relief outing.
If Oettinger starts and repeats his performance against Columbus, the Jackets’ modest projected shot advantage may yield little on the scoreboard. If chances become goals as readily as they did Tuesday, Dallas’s scorers may have to keep responding. Should the Stars take a lead, watch whether they can protect it without giving Columbus power plays. Tuesday showed how quickly penalties can make a big cushion feel small, while Saturday showed Dallas can win this matchup with far less scoring.
We break down every matchup
Explore current odds and model projections for Thursday’s other matchups on the NHL betting board.
Odds and projections are snapshots and can change. Wagering involves risk.
More matchups to explore
Unlock our Premium picks. Free.
Get our sharpest picks, team grades, and projected score in your inbox.