The Winnipeg Jets are set to face the Dallas Stars in the opening match of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoff semifinals on Wednesday night. Both teams enter after winning their respective first-round series in a dramatic fashion, with Dallas achieving a 4-2 Game 7 victory against the Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg overcoming the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in overtime. The puck will drop at 9:30 p.m. ET at Canada Life Center in Winnipeg.
Dallas is currently favored at -125 on the money line (bet $125 to win $100) in the latest odds for the Jets and Stars matchup, while Winnipeg is viewed as the underdog at +105 (bet $100 to win $105). The over/under for total goals scored stands at 5.5, with the Stars also set at -1.5 (+202) on the puck line. Before placing any bets on the match, it is crucial to consult the NHL predictions generated by SportsLine’s sophisticated model.
The SportsLine Projection Model runs simulations for each NHL match-up 10,000 times and enters these playoffs with a combined record of 78-55 on its top-rated lines and totals, grossing over $1,500 for $100 bettors. Those betting through various sportsbooks could expect excellent returns.
Here’s what to look for in the upcoming Jets vs. Stars game:
Over 5.5 goals (-130)
In the first round, the over hit in four of the Stars’ seven games and in six out of seven for the Jets. Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy nominee, ended the first round with an average of 3.85 goals against and faced back-to-back pulls after conceding five and six goals in two consecutive games in St. Louis. Both Jets defensemen Josh Morrissey and Logan Stanley are questionable for Game 1 due to injuries, adding challenge for Winnipeg’s defense. Conversely, Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen is also doubtful for the game due to a knee injury. The SportsLine model predicts that the over on total goals scored will hit in more than 50% of the simulations.
Mikko Rantanen 2+ points (+230)
The Finnish player has been instrumental for the Stars in their first-round success despite the absence of top scorer Jason Robertson. Rantanen tallied 11 points (five goals, six assists) in the last three matches against his former team, including a hat trick in Game 7. In his career against the Jets, he has recorded 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 31 games, featuring a goal and an assist in their previous regular season meeting. Betting odds for this player prop are available at +230 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Kyle Connor anytime goal-scorer (+140)
Connor registered four goals in the last round against the Blues, with his last goal coming in Game 5. He’s now up against a Stars team he has scored against in all four regular season encounters this 2024-25 season. The odds for Connor to score at any point during Game 1 are set at +140 at BetMGM Sportsbook.
