It’s a rematch in the NHL playoffs. The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will be meeting in the Western Conference final for the second spring in a row. The Oilers ousted the Stars in six games in last year’s meeting.
Oddsmakers are going with the home team as the betting chalk for Game 1. The Stars are -128 favorites.
Let’s look at the latest betting line on this game. Remember, odds are subject to change.
 | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | +1.5 (-235) | +107 | O 5.5 (+105) |
| Dallas Stars | -1.5 (+195) | -128 | U 5.5 (+125) |
Checking the latest betting line for this best-of-seven series in the current NHL Playoff odds , it’s the Oilers who are -120 favorites to win the set and advance to the Stanley Cup final for the second year in a row. Dallas is an even-money underdog.
When checking the NHL betting lines at any of the leading Vegas sports betting sites, you’ll find that the Oilers and Stars are the top two contenders in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup odds. The NHL playoffs stats show the Stars holding a 29-19 straight-up edge over the Oilers in all-time playoff games between the two teams. Dallas has eliminated Edmonton in six of nine previous playoff series between the two clubs.
Dallas won two of three regular-season meetings from Edmonton this season. Overall, the two teams have split the past eight games 4-4. At Dallas, the Stars hold an 8-6 straight up edge over the Oilers in the last 14 contests.
The Oilers are 8-1 SU over the past nine games. Edmonton is 4-1 SU over the last five road games and 4-2 SU in the last six games facing Dallas.
Dallas is 5-2 SU over the past seven games. On home ice, the Stars are 6-0 SU in the last six games. Dallas is 6-1 SU in the last seven contests vs Pacific Division squads.
The over has come in on the total in the past two Dallas vs Edmonton games. However, the under is holding a 3-2 edge over the past five games. During the past five games in Dallas the under has been the winning play on the total all five times.
The under is 3-1-1 in Edmonton’s past five games. The under is also 13-7-1 in the last 21 games the Oilers have played against Western Conference clubs. Seven of Edmonton’s last eight games against teams from the Central Division have gone over.
Five of the last six games played by the Stars have gone over. The over is 4-2 in the last six home games played by Dallas. As well, four of the last five times that the Stars have faced Western Conference opposition the under came in as the winner on the total.
The Stars are 44-28-4 SU as a betting favorite this season. Dallas is 17-29 against the puck line as a home team. Edmonton is 18-29 against the puck line as the away club. The Oilers are 10-9-1 SU as the underdog in the betting line.
Edmonton’s walking wounded are regaining their health, which is both good news and bad news for the Oilers. A positive note is the impending return of shutdown defenseman Mattias Ekholm. He’s been out the entire NHL playoffs with an undisclosed injury. Ekholm has returned to practice and could be back in the lineup when the series returns to Edmonton.
On the other hand, goalie Calvin Pickard (lower-body injury) is also good to go. Stuart Skinner is Edmonton’s No. 1 goaltender. However, when he turned in an .810 save percentage in successive losses to LA to open the postseason, Pickard stepped in and went 6-0. Then he got hurt. Skinner returned, went 2-1 with a 1.28 GAA, a .944 save percentage, consecutive shutouts and an active shutout streak of 127:15. So which goalie will the Oilers play?
Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen is leading the NHL playoffs in goals (nine) and points (19). He’s accumulated all nine goals and 18 of his 19 points in the past nine games. Rantanen is getting plenty of support. Dallas has goals from 12 different players through 13 postseason games.
Dallas also welcomed back a key performer from injury. Miro Heiskanen played the last three games of the Stars’ second-round win over Winnipeg. The top defenseman for Dallas missed the final 32 regular-season games and the first 10 games of the NHL playoffs after suffering a knee injury.
This is familiar territory for both teams. Dallas is in its third straight Western Conference final. Edmonton has played in the final four in three of the last four years. That being the case, opening-night jitters shouldn’t be a factor.
The Stars and Oilers tend to play tight games. Three of the last four games between the two teams resulted in one-goal decisions. Dallas is 4-0 SU in one-goal games in the NHL playoffs. Take the Stars to get the Game 1 win in the NHL playoffs picks.
