Oilers vs Stars Game 2 Prediction, Betting Odds, and Our Best Bet

The Dallas Stars erupted in the 3rd period of Game 1, turning a 3-1 deficit into an absolute stunning 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. 

Now with a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Final, the Stars are looking to build on their momentum and take a rare 2-0 series lead — something they haven’t been able to do since the 2020 playoffs.

Game 2 Preview 

Game 2 is set for tonight at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. After dominating the final frame in Game 1, the Stars are coming back to their home ice brimming with confidence. They’ve won back-to-back Game 1s in this postseason before but have yet to secure that elusive 2nd win in a series’ opening stretch since their 2020 run to the Stanley Cup Final. If they can do it again, it would really put the wind in their sails moving forward.

Dallas is riding high after finally getting scoring from players not named Rantanen or Seguin. 3 different players — Matt Duchene, Miro Heiskanen, and Esa Lindell — scored their first goals of the postseason in Game 1, and in their bid to seal up the game, all in the third period. On top of that, all came on the power play, which had been a sore spot heading into the series.

The Oilers, on the other hand, are searching for any answers they can get. A 2-goal lead heading into the 3rd should have been enough to get the job done, especially with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid each producing multi-point nights. Instead, a string of costly penalties and a total collapse on special teams flipped the script in favor of the Stars.

Could that 3rd period have been a fluke or is Dallas really onto something?

Odds and Betting Lines

Bookmakers have this game close again, with the Stars coming into Game 2 as slight home favorites at -118. Their moneyline value reflects both their Game 1 comeback and their solid all-around game down the stretch. The Oilers sit just behind them at -102, showing that the books still respect their firepower. When both teams are in the negatives on the moneyline, you know it’s bound to be a close game. Sure, this makes it tougher to bet, but we’re going to see if we can see any cracks.

The over/under is set at 6.5, which makes sense given how explosive both teams can be. But it’s not just about raw talent in tonight’s game as execution on special teams may be the deciding factor again.

Analysis — What We Learned from Game 1

Game 1 showed that Dallas is deeper than many thought. The Stars erased a 2-goal deficit in a single period, adding 5 goals in the final 20 minutes and exposing Edmonton’s dismal PK unit. Those 5 goals? 3 came on the power play, something Dallas hadn’t managed to do consistently in earlier rounds.

The power play wasn’t just efficient — it was the unquestionable difference-maker. Dallas went 3-for-4 with the man advantage while holding Edmonton to just one power-play goal on 3 chances. That lopsided special teams battle turned the tide in Game 1 and exposed a massive weakness in Edmonton’s postseason game.

Faceoffs were another big edge that helped the Stars gain an advantage. The Stars won 41 draws to the Oilers’ 25, translating into more puck possession and more chances to generate pressure. Add in a superior power play unit and more balanced scoring, and it’s no surprise the Stars pulled away late.

Defensively, Dallas was able to limit Edmonton’s looks in the 3rd and protect their lead once they grabbed it. That’s something Edmonton failed to do despite only needing to keep the puck out of their own zone for 20 minutes, and it cost them big. Despite getting solid production from their stars — Draisaitl had a goal and 2 assists, McDavid 2 assists — they couldn’t stop the bleeding when it mattered. While those 2 are some of the best players in the game, they can’t be on the ice the entire time.

Another worrying stat for the Oilers is giveaways. Edmonton coughed up the puck 19 times to Dallas’ 17, but several of theirs came in key moments which ultimately led to Dallas’s goals. That’s the kind of sloppiness you can’t afford in the Conference Finals as all 4 of the remaining teams will make you pay for sloppiness.

Mikko Rantanen’s scoreless streak continued for Dallas, but that’s almost irrelevant now. As long as their depth is stepping up, the Stars don’t need him to carry the load. Coach Pete DeBoer emphasized this in his postgame comments, pointing out the scoring depth that showed up late in the series against Winnipeg and came through again versus Edmonton.

Stars vs Oilers Prediction — Stars Take a Commanding 2-0 Lead

This game feels like another Dallas win. Of course, Edmonton’s stars can hang with anyone, and you know they’ll come out looking for vengeance, but until they fix their penalty kill and clean up the defensive zone mistakes, the edge stays with the Stars. There are just some things their top stars can’t handle on their own.

Dallas has the deeper bench, a suddenly hot power play, and a growing sense of confidence. They’ve also got a home crowd behind them that watched one of the best periods of playoff hockey the franchise has ever played.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Stars 4, Oilers 3
• Best Bet: Dallas Stars moneyline at -118

We expect another close one, but we also expect Dallas to pull it out again. Any time Edmonton heads to the box the Stars have shown they’ll make them pay.