The New Jersey Devils will begin life without superstar Jack Hughes with a tough road test against the powerhouse Dallas Stars.
My Devils vs. Stars predictions see Dougie Hamilton stepping up offensively and taking advantage of a strong positional matchup.
Let’s break things down further with my March 4 NHL picks.
Devils vs Stars prediction
My best bet
Dougie Hamilton Over 2.5 shots (-120 at FanDuel)
My analysis
Dougie Hamilton is one of the best volume shooters in the league at his position. Only Cale Makar and Zach Werenski have piled up more shots, shot attempts, or scoring chances than Hamilton.
Hamilton has fired at will since returning from the 4 Nations break, averaging 4.2 shots on 8.8 attempts over the course of five games.
The New Jersey Devils will need Hamilton to continue providing that sort of output without Jack Hughes in the lineup. Hughes leads the Devils in goals, assists, points, shots, shot attempts, and scoring chances so there is a lot of slack to be picked up.
Hamilton showed the ability to step up the last time he was healthy when Hughes wasn’t, averaging 3.6 shots on goal while producing five points over five games.
He is in a sneaky-good spot to provide that kind of offense. The Dallas Stars have defended alarmingly bad without Miro Heiskanen, ranking 30th in shots and 31st in expected goals against since he suffered his injury.
Dallas has conceded a ton of volume to defensemen in that span. Only four teams have allowed more shots to the position over the last 10 games.
Hamilton faced the Stars exactly two weeks ago and recorded eight shots on 16 attempts. I wouldn’t expect that level of volume again but, in a great matchup with more on his plate offensively, Hamilton should be in for another active shooting performance.
Devils vs Stars same-game parlay (SGP)
Dougie Hamilton Over 2.5 shots
Timo Meier Over 2.5 shots
Under 6.5
Timo Meier is another player who stands to benefit from Hughes’ absence. He certainly did a season ago, averaging 4.2 shots on 7.5 attempts while recording 3+ shots in 67% of his games.
Meier will be more heavily relied upon at 5v5 and also figures to be promoted to the top power play unit, giving him more ice in opportune offensive situations.
It’s also worth noting Meier has a great track record against the Stars. He’s cleared 2.5 shots in five straight games, including a four shot performance just a couple weeks ago.
An alternate under stands out to me as the cherry on top. The Devils have consistently played in low-scoring games, as evidenced by their 21-39-2 O/U record on the year.
Take out Jack Hughes, who leads the team in every single meaningful offensive category, while adjusting the total for an extra goal of insurance and it’s even more appealing.
Just one of the last 10 Devils games has featured more than six goals.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Devils vs Stars odds
Devils vs Stars live odds
Devils vs Stars opening odds
- Puck line: New Jersey +127 | Dallas -144
- Moneyline: New Jersey +1.5 (-222) | Dallas -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-110) | Under 5.5 (-104)
Devils vs Stars trend
Dougie Hamilton has cleared 2.5 shots in four straight against Dallas, averaging five shots per game. Find more NHL betting trends for Devils vs. Stars.
How to watch Devils vs Stars
| Location | American Airlines Center, Dallas |
| Date | Tuesday, 3-4-2025 |
| Puck drop | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+, HULU, Disney+ |
Devils vs Stars latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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