The Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets will face off in their season opener in the NHL on Thursday night . Both teams are looking to open the season with a statement against a Central Division opponent. The Jets are fresh off a Presidents’ Trophy campaign and will try to set the tone early against the team that finished second to them in the Central last year. Before the action begins from Winnipeg, continue reading to get my Stars vs Jets prediction.
Our Stars vs Jets Pick
- Pick: Jets Moneyline
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Dallas Stars @ Winnipeg Jets
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Stars vs Jets Odds
| Odds | Moneyline | Puckline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | −110 | −1.5 (+210) | Over 5.5 |
| Winnipeg | −110 | +1.5 (−300) | Under 5.5 |
Key Storylines
Recent Form
- Dallas has won four of the last six head-to-head meetings between these teams.
- Both teams won two of their final three preseason games heading into the regular season.
- Winnipeg went 30-7-4 at home during the regular season last year.
- Dallas was 22-16-3 in their road games a season ago.
Goaltending
Winnipeg netminder Connor Hellebuyck returns after a standout 2024–25 season. He posted 47 wins and a league-leading goals-against average of 2.01. He also won the William Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed. He remains one of the most elite goaltenders in the league.
Jake Oettinger is set to begin the season in net again for the Stars. Oettinger won nearly two-thirds of the games he started last season for Dallas. And while his GAA is a little higher than that of Hellebuyck, he still brings plenty to the table for the Stars.
Key Skaters
Winnipeg’s top offensive threat is Kyle Connor, who led the Jets with 41 goals and 97 points last season. He recently agreed to an eight-year extension starting after this season, signaling that both player and team are fully invested in one another. Dallas will lean on the contributions of Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene. But this Dallas team had four players crack 65 points last season and they are incredibly balanced.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Kyle Connor (WPG) | Over 0.5 Goals |
| Jason Robertson (DAL) | Over 1.5 Points |
Stars vs Jets Model Projection
Score Projection: Dallas 2 – Winnipeg 3
Win Probability: Dallas 48%, Winnipeg 52%
Final Thoughts
The formula for Winnipeg has been pretty simple over the last few years. They want to win games by suffocating their opponents with their elite defense and goaltending. I think that is exactly what we are going to see transpire in this season opener against the Stars. Look for Winnipeg to rely heavily on Hellebuyck in goal, as he should do whatever is required of him to deliver his team a season-opening win over a Stars team that will be in contention with the Jets for the Central Division title all year long.
