Canucks vs Stars

Riding a strong season overall, the Dallas Stars are asserting their dominance at the top of the Central Division, while the Vancouver Canucks limp in after a rough stretch that has them teetering on the edge of playoff contention. Despite previous concerns, All-Star netminder Thatcher Demko is active and expected to start, though his recent play has been inconsistent. The Stars, on the other hand, are healthy but come into this one on a two-game losing streak, despite Jake Oettinger’s recent stretch of stellar play with a 1.96 GAA over his last five starts. Offensively, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson have combined for nine points over their last three games and have historically produced well against Vancouver. While Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller continue to lead the Canucks offensively, they’ve struggled to generate consistent high-danger chances recently, and Dallas’ structured defense doesn’t leave much room for error. With the Stars looking to lock up home-ice for the postseason, expect them to take control early and drown out the visiting Canucks. The moneyline value isn’t optimal at -225, thus the grade sits at a B, but Dallas is the clear favorite in a game with heavy playoff implications and matchup advantages. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Vancouver rolls into Dallas after a recent stretch that’s seen them lose momentum, including games where they’ve struggled to score more than two goals. The Canucks, with Brock Boeser in the lineup, are still having trouble finding consistent finish, and while Arturs Šilovs has shown late-season promise in net, his inexperience remains a limiting factor. On the flip side, the Stars—currently second in the Western Conference—come in off a two-game losing streak following a dominant seven-game run prior, and continue to lean on elite two-way play from Miro Heiskanen and steady goaltending from Jake Oettinger. Though Jason Robertson has historically produced against Vancouver, Dallas tends to tighten up when closing out playoff positioning, and this game carries important seeding implications. With both clubs likely to adopt a conservative, postseason-style approach—and with Vancouver’s attack sputtering—this matchup profiles as a lower-scoring affair. The plus money on the Under adds appeal, but Vancouver’s offensive unpredictability keeps this play at a B- confidence grade. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Sizzling through much of the second half, the Dallas Stars continue to assert themselves near the top of the Central Division, and they’ll aim to rebound from a two-game skid when they skate into Vancouver on Tuesday. The Canucks, sitting at 35–29, remain in the Wild Card hunt but have struggled with inconsistency on offense, despite a strong season from Thatcher Demko in goal. While both Pius Suter and Carson Soucy are active, Vancouver’s depth up front has been hit-or-miss, and they’ve failed to string together wins in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Dallas’ top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski continues to generate chances, with Robertson historically producing well against Vancouver’s defense. Jake Oettinger has quietly returned to form just in time, allowing just seven goals over his last four starts. With playoff seeding on the line and Dallas aiming to lock down home-ice advantage, expect them to dictate pace and zone time. The -1.5 puckline offers decent value, though the Canucks’ urgency may keep things interesting—earning this play a solid B grade. Odds and availability are subject to change.