- The Stars and Wild have combined for 6+ goals in four of their first five games, but have a line of just 5.5 total goals tonight.
- Connor McDavid has six points in the first five games against the Ducks. He averages 1.8 points per game in elimination games before the Stanley Cup Finals.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – A pair of NHL Stanley Cup Playoff elimination games are set for Thursday night, beginning with the Minnesota Wild hosting the Dallas Stars at 7:30 PM EST.
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild Game 6 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | +1.5 (-245) | +105 | O 5.5 (-120) |
| Wild | -1.5 (+205) | -125 | U 5.5 (+100) |
Legal sports betting sites slightly favor the Wild to take home a victory in Game 6, which would seal the series and put Minnesota through to the second round. Each team won one of the first two games in Minnesota this series, while Minnesota has stolen two of three games on the road.
Total Goals Scored To Be Under 5.5 (+100)
While it has been a very high scoring series with four out of five games seeing six or more goals, there are a few reasons why this trend could see its end sooner rather than later.
Historically, as NHL playoff series progress, they generally become lower scoring, dropping from about 6 goals per game early in the series to about 5.4 in Game 6s. Elimination games drop even lower, down to about 5.2 goals per game.
This usually has to do with a decrease in penalties in later games, as refs begin to “swallow the whistle” and let more physical play occur. This would greatly hurt the Stars’ offensive attack, as they’ve scored on a whopping 39.1% of their power play goals this series. Even with a lower amount of penalties called, they’re due for regression.
Additionally, Stars’ goalie Jake Oettinger has been fantastic in elimination games throughout his career with a 6-3 record and .920 save percentage. The under at Minnesota sports betting sites has good value at +100 odds for Thursday night.
Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks Game 6 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | -1.5 (+180) | -130 | O 7.0 (-103) |
| Ducks | +1.5 (-220) | +110 | U 7.0 (-117) |
Last season’s Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers are on the brink of elimination, down 3-2 heading into Thursday’s matchup with the Ducks.
Edmonton finished the regular season one point above the Ducks, giving them home ice advantage. They won Game 1 at home before dropping three straight and eventually taking Game 5 at home as well.
Connor McDavid To Record 2+ Points (-135)
This may seem like low hanging fruit and there is a reason for it.
McDavid led the league in total points for the sixth time in his career, posting 138 points in 82 games, averaging 1.7 points per game. So far this series, he has six points in five games, relatively low compared to his regular season pace.
Over his playoff career, McDavid has averaged 1.5 points per game, but that average jumps all the way up to 1.8 points per game in elimination games prior to the Stanley Cup Finals. He’s recorded two points in each of his last three games and has been historically good in elimination scenarios in his career.
Bet on Edmonton’s star to perform at NHL betting sites.
