The end of Game 6 between the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets ended in fisticuffs as Stars captain Jamie Benn landed a strong left-handed punch to the jaw of Mark Scheifele. Dallas eventually lost the contest 4-0 as they were shut out in Winnipeg for the second straight time, and with tensions clearly running high, tonight’s Game 6 has the makings of a very chippy affair.
With puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. EST, here’s a prediction and pick for Stars vs. Jets Game 6 tonight in Dallas.
Stars vs. Jets Game 6 prediction, pick
The Stars head back to Dallas tonight as -148 favorites on the Moneyline with +180 odds on the -1.5 puck line. The visiting Jets come in as +124 underdogs on the Moneyline with -218 odds to cover at +1.5. The game total sits at 5.5 combined goals, a bit of a low mark for two teams with very capable offenses.
While the Jets could’ve fallen flat and been eliminated last time out, the Presidents’ Trophy winners snapped back into their regular-season form with a 4-0 shutout of a talented Stars offense. Connor Hellebuyck’s Jekyll and Hyde act continued as he looked deserving of his Hart Trophy finalist spot, saving everything that came his way. The Winnipeg also fired well, outshooting their opponents 35-22 in that one.
The final score implies a dominant showing by the Jets — the scoreboard arguably misrepresented how it happened, though. Winnipeg scored their opening goal on a lucky bounce off a Dallas skate directly into the net, and while their second goal came on a true 5v5, goal number three came with a 5v3 advantage before an empty-netter for the final score. Winnipeg took advantage of their chances, but Dallas played against themselves with sloppy penalties all evening.
Notably, Mark Scheifele is uncertain to play tonight after his father passed away on Friday night. With 10 points in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games, his absence would deal a massive blow to this Jets squad’s attack. Regardless of Scheifele’s status, though, Hellebuyck’s struggles on the road this postseason can’t be ignored. He’s got a .793 SV% and 5.84 GAA in five road starts this postseason and can’t be depended on to protect the net outside of Manitoba.
With Hellebuyck’s poor form and Dallas’ newfound health as they reintegrate Miro Heiskanen into the lineup, look for the home-team Stars to close the series out tonight. As for a top pick, consider taking Mikko Rantanen to record 2+ points since he’s been on a heater throughout these playoffs.
Best bet: Mikko Rantanen 2+ Points
