There are only two games on the NHL betting board this Sunday as the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks wrap up their regular season with back-to-back contests at the United Center.
Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs and it will be just pride on the line tonight.
So you may as well put a little money down and make this game interesting. Check out our best free Stars vs. Blackhawks picks and predictions for Sunday, May 9, with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. ET.
Stars at Blackhawks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
NHL Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonDallas opened as a -157 moneyline favorite and has slimmed significantly to -120 at DraftKings sportsbooks, with 69 percent of the moneyline handle riding on the underdog Blackhawks, who jumped from +148 to EVEN money. The total for this game opened at 6 (Under -120) and is now down to 5.5 (Over -122), with the bet count fairly even on the Over/Under.
Check out the full line movement for this gameStars at Blackhawks betting preview
Injuries
Stars: Alexander Radulov RW (Out).
Blackhawks: Brett Connolly RW (Out), Andrew Shaw RW (Out), Kirby Dach C (Out), Calvin de Haan D (Out), Adam Boqvist D (Out), Duncan Keith D (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 21-4-1 in the last 26 meetings in Chicago. Find more NHL betting trends for Stars vs. Blackhawks.
Moneyline pick
This was expected to be a rebuilding year for the Blackhawks but the Stars must be very frustrated after making the Stanley Cup finals last season. Dallas is still capable of tying Nashville for the fourth-most points in the Central Division but the Preds own the tie-breaker.
The Stars are coming off a win against the Lightning but are just 1-5 in their last six games. That said, they are 6-1 in their previous seven contests against teams with a losing record and the Blackhawks certainly fit that bill. Chicago is fresh off an overtime victory against Carolina but had lost six straight games prior to that win.
The Stars haven't been great on offense, averaging just 2.76 goals per game, but the long-awaited return of Tyler Seguin has given them a boost up front with Dallas scoring 11 goals in three games since he re-entered the lineup.
Dallas has been much better than the Blackhawks on the other end of the ice, where it allows just 2.59 goals per game, good for the seventh-best mark in the NHL.
Goalie Anton Khudobin is expected to get the start tonight and has posted a 2.49 GAA in 31 games but backup Jake Oettinger (2.30 GAA) has also filled in admirably for Ben Bishop, who has missed the entire season.
The Blackhawks rank just 24th in the league by surrendering 3.28 goals per game. They've also struggled mightily in the face-off circle and in Fenwick For Rating, ranking among the Bottom-3 teams in the league in both categories. Dallas has been solid in both of those departments, ranking ninth in Fenwick For Rating and seventh in face-off win percentage.
We're going with the side that should be mad about missing out on the postseason over the team that was expected to be on the outside looking in.
PREDICTION: Dallas (-140)
Over/Under pick
You know how some NHL games, especially toward the end of the regular season, have a tense playoff atmosphere with scoring chances coming at a premium? Well, expect this to be the opposite with both sides having nothing to play for and likely playing a more expansive style of hockey.
The Blackhawks will likely start rookie goalie Kevin Lankinen. The 25-year-old began his career in spectacular fashion, going 3-1-2 with a 1.97 GAA and a .937 save percentage in January, but has gotten worse with every month. Since the start of April, he's 3-6-1 with a 4.00 GAA and an atrocious save percentage of .872.
Betting trends are also pointing to the Over, with the Stars going 8-3-4 O/U in their last 15 games and the Blackhawks going above the total in seven of their previous eight contests at home.
With the Over also going 21-4-1 in the last 26 meetings between these teams in Chicago, back it again tonight.
PREDICTION: Over 5.5 (-120)
Stars vs Blackhawks betting card
- Dallas (-140)
- Over 5.5 (-120)
Picks made on 5/09/2021 at 11:30 a.m. ET
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