The Dallas Stars have had to do it the hard way this postseason.
Missing their two best players, the Stars outlasted the heavily-favored Colorado Avalanche in Round 1 and then defeated the Presidents’ Trophy winners in Round 2.
Dallas didn’t dominate either series, but that is hardly a knock. It would have been unfair to expect the Stars to pummel two of the best teams in the NHL, especially with Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson on the shelf, in a best-of-7 series.
And yet, it does feel like the Stars are not being given enough credit for what they’ve accomplished this spring. At least not compared to their opponents in the Western Conference Finals.
Oilers vs. Stars Game 1 pick
While the Stars had to grind it out against the Avs and Jets, the Edmonton Oilers have won eight of nine against the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights, and they’ve looked like world-beaters in the process.
But this is a brand new series, and the Stars will pose a much different challenge to the Oilers than they saw from Vegas and Los Angeles.
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Not only does Dallas have a significant edge in goal with Jake Oettinger, but the Stars have two elite, mobile defensemen who can skate with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
And while there aren’t many teams — if any — in the NHL that can match the offensive upside of the Oilers, the Stars can come close. They are a deep team up front, but they also have arguably the best player in the playoffs so far in Mikko Rantanen.
The Stars won’t want to go back-and-forth with the Oilers, but they can do it if that’s what the situation calls for.
Without taking away anything from the Oilers, the Stars have dealt with a ton of adversity so far in the postseason, making it possible that they are only going to get better from this point forward.
The Play: Dallas ML (-125, Fanatics Sportsbook)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.