Stars vs Oilers Game 4 Prediction, Betting Odds, and Best Pick

The Dallas Stars are on the ropes heading into Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. They’re currently trailing the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in the series and that’s always a tough hole to climb out of.

After a dominant 6-1 loss in Game 3, the pressure is on for Dallas to show some life and avoid falling into a 3-1 hole, especially on the road. For Edmonton, it’s a chance to tighten their grip on the series and move one step closer to yet another Stanley Cup Final.

With the puck drop set for 7:00 PM tonight, there’s plenty of time to get your bets in on this matchup and we’ve got the best bet and prediction for the game.

Game 4 Overview and Odds

This is the 2nd game in Edmonton, and the Oilers are riding a tidal wave of momentum. They are the favorites on the moneyline at -166, while the Stars are slight underdogs at +140. The puck line offers some decent value for those leaning toward another big Edmonton win at +150, and the total is set at 6.5 goals which we feel is appropriate, given the high-octane offense Edmonton has shown so far.

Game 3 wasn’t just a win for the Oilers —it was an absolute statement. From the opening shift, Edmonton overwhelmed Dallas with pace, puck movement, and physical play on both ends of the ice. The Oilers have now outscored the Stars 9-1 over the last 2 games, and they appear to be peaking at just the right time after their Game 1 loss in Dallas.

Oilers Offense in Full Gear

There’s no question which team has the hotter hands right now.

Edmonton is lighting up the scoreboard, led by one of the best, Connor McDavid, who now has 22 points in 14 postseason games. That’s the best in the NHL Playoffs. His vision, speed, and patience are simply shredding Dallas’ defensive structure. Leon Draisaitl is right behind him with 21 points, including 6 goals and 15 assists. The dynamic duo has been nearly impossible to contain.

Zach Hyman made his presence felt in Game 3 with a two-goal performance, bringing his playoff total to 5. Edmonton’s offense isn’t just coming from the stars as it appears — guys like Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are producing as well. Bouchard had a goal and an assist in Game 3 and now has 17 postseason points. He’s showing he’s one of the most dangerous offensive defensemen left in the playoffs.

The Oilers are scoring 3.93 GF/G in the playoffs which is good for second-best among all teams and their power play remains deadly. They’ve cashed in on a whopping 25.7% of their chances, and that’s with McDavid and Draisaitl drawing most of the defensive focus. Even when they’re not scoring, they’re creating chaos and wearing down penalty kills despite Dallas having one of the best PK units in the NHL.

On the other end, Edmonton has been locking things down defensively. Jake Walman leads the team with a +12 rating, and their overall defensive play has tightened considerably. Over the last two games, they’ve given up just one goal total. This just goes to show that Stuart Skinner can turn it on when he really needs to because this is the best hockey he’s played all season.

Stars Are Fading

Dallas was able to take Game 1, which was a great game where they won 6-3, but they’ve looked overmatched ever since. They were shut out in Game 2 and only scored once in Game 3. Their top players are either struggling to produce or getting buried in the plus-minus column. Matt Duchene, who led Dallas in regular season points, has only 6 in 16 playoff games and an alarming -13 rating.

Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund have been carrying the offensive load. Rantanen leads the team with 21 points and 9 goals, while Granlund has chipped in 9 points. The problem is, there’s been little help from the rest of the lineup. Jason Robertson was able to score his 1st goal of the series in Game 3, but his production has been inconsistent throughout the playoffs despite missing a few games due to an injury.

The Stars are only averaging 2.56 GF/G in the postseason, and they’re ranked near the bottom in shooting percentage. Even though their power play has converted at a solid 31.9%, they’ve struggled to generate high-danger chances against Edmonton’s aggressive forecheck and tight neutral zone defense.

Defensively, Dallas just hasn’t held up, either. Lian Bichsel leads the team in PIM and is often caught chasing in his own zone. Roope Hintz is the only player on the team with a positive plus-minus rating at +1, and even he has only one goal in the playoffs.

In Game 3, Dallas looked completely overwhelmed and they’re going to have to make some serious changes if they want to have a chance to come back in this series. Edmonton controlled the tempo, won puck battles, and exposed the Stars’ defense time and again and if Dallas doesn’t come out with more energy and discipline, this series could get away from them fast.

Our Prediction and Best Bet

This is a brutal spot for the Stars and one we didn’t see coming.

They’ve been outplayed in every area over the last 2 games, and now they’re back in Edmonton where the Oilers have been rolling. Dallas needs a complete turnaround from their top 6 forwards and a cleaner performance in their own zone to stay alive. While they’re at it, they’ll need their depth to wake up as well.

But based on what we’ve seen, it’s hard to trust the Stars to suddenly flip a switch — especially in Edmonton. Edmonton is just clicking on every level. Their stars are delivering, their depth players are contributing, and their defense is limiting high-danger looks.

We expect the Oilers to take control early again and keep the pressure on throughout.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Oilers 4, Stars 2
• Best Bet: Edmonton Oilers puck line -1.5 at +150

Will this game be a blowout like the last 2? Maybe not because 3 in a row is always a monumental task. However, we do feel that the Oilers on the puck line is the direction this series is trending. Unless the Stars make some serious changes and the Oilers just come out flat, both of which would need to happen, we’re jumping on the puck line at +150 all day long.