Best NHL Prop Bets Today: Back the Stars to Cover the Puck Line

The Dallas Stars have started to show why they were listed as one of the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup heading into the year as they currently rank top-4 in Expected Goals For and Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Heading into Thursday, the Stars have the opportunity to maintain their high level of play as they face off against the Montreal Canadiens who severely underwhelm on both sides of the ice.

Shortly after their puck drop, we turn our attention towards the Los Angeles Kings as their defense has the opportunity to maintain their high level of play with a favorable matchup against the anemic Vancouver Canucks offense. The Kings back line have been dominant this season as they enter the contest ranked first overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play.

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Montreal Canadiens vs. Dallas Stars - Prop Bets (8:00 PM, EST)

Dallas Stars Puck Line -1.5 (+115) at Caesars Sportsbook

Over the past few weeks of play, the Dallas Stars have been red hot as they have gone 8-1-1 in their last 10 contests and are swiftly climbing back up the overall standings for the Presidents’ Trophy. Their defense rounding back into form has played a major role in their resurgence as their back line currently ranks third overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations after residing in the bottom half of the board earlier in the year.

Against Montreal, the Stars defense will have the opportunity to continue to succeed as they face off against a Canadiens front line who ranks 28th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Especially with Jake Oettinger playing at a very high level as the Stars goalie is currently averaging 2.31 Goals Against per game and a .912 Save Percentage. With the Canadiens defense also severely underwhelming in coverage, the Dallas Stars are in a favorable position to cover the puck line.

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Wyatt Johnston Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-110) at BetMGM Sportsbook

It’s been an abysmal year for the Canadiens back line as they currently rank near dead last in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Their inability to defend their net bodes well for Wyatt Johnston as the Stars center has been relatively quiet in his efforts of generating Shots on Goal since the calendar flipped to 2025. With his well balanced front line stretching out Montreal’s defense, expect Johnston to round back into form by exploiting the high quality shooting lanes the Canadiens lack of coverage provides.

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Los Angeles Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks - Prop Bets (10:00 PM, EST)

Vancouver Canucks Team Total Under 2.5 (-105) at BetMGM Sportsbook

At the halfway point of the season, the Vancouver Canucks are in serious jeopardy of missing out on the playoffs as they are currently one point back from the Calgary Flames in the wildcard standings for the last wild card spot in the Western Conference. Their lack of offensive production has played a major role in their struggles this season as their front line currently ranks 31st overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 2.64 Expected Goals per game.

Unfortunately for Vancouver, their struggles on offense are poised to persist as they face off against a Los Angeles Kings back line who leads the league in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Not only have the Kings back line excelled in coverage, but their starting goalie Darcy Kuemper has also quietly built a case for winning the Vezina Trophy due to his high level of play. Escalator bet the Canucks team total by placing smaller wagers on their alternate unders.

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Quinn Hughes Under 2.5 Shots on Goal (-150) at BetMGM Sportsbook

With the Kings defense excelling at smothering opposing shot attempts, the Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes will struggle to weave the puck through low quality shooting lanes from the blue line. Especially with his offense incapable of stretching out their coverage as only three Canucks average more than 0.30 Expected Goals per game. Barring a broken play, expect Hughes to struggle to break away from their coverage and generate Shots on Goal.

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