Our Blues vs. Stars prediction starts with a season opener in Dallas, where the Stars host St. Louis as -183 moneyline favorites with the total at 6.0. That price has moved since it opened. Neither starting goaltender is confirmed yet, either. Both factors shape the two plays below.
Last Updated: October 2, 2026
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars — Game Info
| Where | American Airlines Center, Dallas Texas |
| When | October 2 – 9:00 PM ET |
| TV | TNT, truTV, SN1 |
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars Betting Preview
The goaltending matchup projects as Joel Hofer against Jake Oettinger, but both starts are still unconfirmed. Hofer handled the larger share of St. Louis starts last season. He went 24-13-5 with a 2.61 goals-against average and six shutouts. He also finished strong, posting a .920 save percentage across his final 10 appearances, per NHL.com game logs. Jordan Binnington is the alternative. His .873 save percentage last season would be a material downgrade.
Oettinger went 35-12-6 with a 2.59 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage. His closing stretch was weaker, at .883 over his final 10 appearances. He also sat out the final two preseason games with lower-body tightness. However, coach Glen Gulutzan downplayed the issue, and Oettinger is expected to be available. Treat this read as provisional until both clubs confirm their starters.
Dallas went 50-20-12 for 112 points, second in the Central, before a first-round playoff exit. You can revisit how that first-round series unfolded last spring. The Stars converted 28.6% of their power plays, second in the league. Jason Robertson, back on a one-year deal, led the team with 45 goals and 96 points. Meanwhile, Matt Duchene was placed on long-term injured reserve and will miss at least the first 10 games.
St. Louis went 37-33-12 for 86 points, fifth in the Central. The Blues ranked 26th on the power play and 25th on the penalty kill. Still, they closed well, winning their last four games and going 6-3-1 over their final 10. The summer brought Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael and Brandon Carlo onto the opening-night roster. Defensemen Tyler Tucker (knee) and Logan Mailloux (hand) are out.
Both teams play again Saturday, St. Louis at Colorado and Dallas at Nashville. Dallas took three of four meetings last season, but the series was closer than that record suggests. The Stars won 3-2 and 5-4 at home and 4-3 in St. Louis, all in regulation. The Blues took the other meeting 3-1 at home in October.
Neither team leaned on shot volume last season. St. Louis averaged 25.3 shots per game, 29th in the league, and Dallas ranked 30th. The Stars made up for it with finishing and defense, allowing 2.71 goals per game, the second-fewest in the NHL. The Blues allowed 3.10 per game, which ranked 19th. Meanwhile, the total opened at 5.5 and has risen to 6.0.
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | +1.5 (-170) | +158 | O 6.0 (-112) |
| Stars | -1.5 (+145) | -183 | U 6.0 (-108) |
Odds accurate as of October 2, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
St. Louis Blues vs. Dallas Stars — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Blues | 62% | 38% | Stars |
See the latest NHL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Blues vs. Stars Prediction — Does STL have Value on Puck Line?
This line opened with Dallas at -205 and St. Louis at +173. It now sits at -183 and +158, even though 94% of moneyline tickets are on the Stars. A price moving toward the side drawing only 6% of tickets is reverse line movement. It suggests the larger wagers have landed on St. Louis.
The puck line has moved in the same direction, with the St. Louis side growing more expensive since it opened. Meanwhile, 62% of puck-line tickets back the Blues. That part of the move runs with the public, so it carries less weight on its own. Still, it fits a game the market expects to stay close. Last season supports that view, since three of four meetings ended with a one-goal margin. In addition, the goaltending numbers lean toward Hofer if he starts.
The case against is real. Dallas owns the second-ranked power play against a bottom-eight penalty kill. That gap can turn a one-goal game into a two-goal game quickly. Empty-net goals are the other risk, because a trailing team pulls its goalie late. The price has also moved already, so the opening value is gone. The current cost needs a 63.0% win rate to break even, which makes this a lean rather than a strong play. A Binnington start would weaken it further.
The Pick: Blues +1.5 Puck Line (-170)
Blues vs. Stars Prediction — Will Johnston Produce a Goal?
Dallas built much of its offense on the power play last season, and Wyatt Johnston was the finisher. He scored 45 goals in 82 games, and 27 of them came on the power play to lead the NHL. St. Louis, by contrast, killed penalties at a rate that ranked 25th in the league. That is the matchup this angle leans on.
The counterweight is that 27 power-play goals is an unusual total, and single-season extremes tend to cool. Johnston also scored only once in four games against St. Louis last season. His 45-goal pace lands close to what this price already asks, at a 41.3% break-even. As a result, the edge comes from the weak opposing kill, and it is thin. Hofer’s strong finish is the other obstacle.
The Pick: Wyatt Johnston Anytime Goalscorer (+142)
Our Final Word on Blues vs. Stars
These two plays do not cancel each other out. A one-goal Dallas win with Johnston scoring would cash both. The goaltending confirmation remains the swing factor for the first play, so check the starters before puck drop. For a look at how the opening week started across the league, see our opening-night NHL best bets.
Blues +1.5 on the puck line at -170 is the top play, backed by reverse line movement against 94% of moneyline tickets on Dallas. Wyatt Johnston as an anytime goalscorer at +142 is the second play, built on his league-leading 27 power-play goals against a 25th-ranked penalty kill.
NHL Blues vs. Stars FAQ: October 2, 2026
What time does the Blues vs. Stars game start?
The Blues and Stars face off at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday, October 2, 2026, which is 8:00 p.m. local time in Dallas. The game is the regular-season opener for both teams and is played at American Airlines Center. Both clubs then play again on Saturday night.
What channel is the Blues vs. Stars game on?
The Blues vs. Stars game airs nationally on TNT and truTV in the United States. Viewers in Canada can watch on SN1. The national broadcast covers the season opener for both teams from American Airlines Center in Dallas, with puck drop scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET.
How can I stream the Blues vs. Stars game?
You can stream the Blues vs. Stars game on HBO Max, which is listed among the national outlets for the season opener in the United States. The stream begins with the 9:00 p.m. ET puck drop from American Airlines Center in Dallas, alongside the TNT and truTV television broadcasts.
Who won the last meeting between the Blues and Stars?
Dallas won the last meeting, beating St. Louis 5-4 in regulation on February 4, 2026, at American Airlines Center. That result finished last season’s series, which the Stars took three games to one. All three Dallas wins in the series came by a single goal.
Is Matt Duchene playing tonight?
No, Matt Duchene will not play against the Blues. Dallas placed him on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury after a setback during training camp. He will miss at least the first 10 games of the regular season, so the Stars open without him in the lineup.