NHL

Stars vs Blue Jackets Pick: Thursday February 4th

Stars vs Blue Jackets Pick: Thursday, February 4th: The Stars have been able to salvage some games on this four game road trip, getting right against the Jackets in a 6-3 on Tuesday night. Before that, the Stars opened their road trip with back-to-back losses to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Little Joe Pavelski stayed hot with two goals and two assists, giving him seven goals and seven assists to start the season. Jamie Benn had a big game with a goal and two helpers. Dallas outshot the Jackets 33-26 and beat them on the face-off circle 31-24. The Stars don’t look like they miss Tyler Seguin at all. Their first line of Rope Hintz between Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov is strong even though the Corsi ratings don’t like them. Joe Pavelski is carrying the 2nd line of him between Jason Dickinson and Denis Gurianov.

The Stars’ top 4 D-Man are excellent Esa Lindell and John Klingberg on the 1st unit and Miro Heiskanen and Jamie Oleksiak on the 2nd unit. Klingberg is ranked as the #7 right defensemen in the NHL, and Heiskanen is rated as the #9 left defensemen. Separating them keeps one stud on the ice at all times. You used to be incapable of counting on this team, which has changed with Joe Pavelski’s addition. He plays hard every night, and that rubs off on teammates.

Columbus’s 1st game with Patrick Laine on the ice did not go well. He led the team with 20:54 of playing time. He was a -2 and only had two shots on goal. His legs were heavy, and he wasn’t right. It won’t take him long to get into game shape. That should be a dangerous line of Laine, Texier, and Atkinson. They have depth with Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic, Oliver Bjorkstrand on the 2nd unit, Mikhail Grigorenko, Nick Foligno, and Max Domi 3rd unit. This isn’t last year’s, Jackets. This team can score. Take advantage of These low totals while you can because they won’t be around for long.

Stars vs Blue Jackets Odds

NHL Odds	Opening Lines
Stars	-120
Blue Jackets	+100
Total	5
Where/When	Nationwide Arena, 7:00 PM ET

The Stars are 5-2 to start the season and have outscored their opponents by an average score of 4.1 to 2.4 in those seven games. Meanwhile, the Jackets are 4-6 in their last ten games and have been outscored by an average of a half goal per game in that stretch. Columbus will have their hands full against the Stars on Thursday night, coming into the game as the 27th ranked offense in the NHL, scoring just 2.4 goals per game, while allowing three goals per game. On the other hand, the Stars are the 2nd best offensive team in the league after seven games played, scoring 4.1 goals per game and allowing just 2.3.