Mikko Rantanen was an assist machine in his first season in Dallas, piling up 55 helpers over just 64 games.
He continues to ride shotgun with Wyatt Johnston on the team's top offensive line, making him a priority target in tonight's Blues vs. Stars predictions.
Let's dive deeper into my NHL picks for Friday, October 2.
Blues vs Stars prediction: Under 6.5
I don’t see this game turning into a track meet, and I would play Under 6.5 to 59%.
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues are slower, methodical teams that almost always play low-event games against each other.
While two of four meetings last year went Over, the two sides combined for shot totals of 46, 50, 41, and 41. Not a lot there.
Jake Oettinger is generally reliable, while Joel Hofer quietly ranked 15th among 51 eligible netminders in Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 minutes.
They should hold up nicely against low shot volumes.
COVERS INTEL: Mikko Rantanen finished fifth in the NHL in power play assists last season, setting him up to take advantage of a St. Louis Blues penalty kill with a lot to prove.
Blues vs Stars combo
The Blues struggled on the penalty kill in 2025-26, allowing goals at the ninth-highest rate. Meanwhile, the Stars ranked second in scoring efficiency on the man advantage.
That puts the Mikko Rantanen - Wyatt Johnston duo front and center. Rantanen is one of the sport's best playmakers, and Johnston scored more power-play goals than anyone in the NHL last season.
We’ll round out the combo with a Dallas moneyline play. They finished tied for third in home wins, and their power play could be the deciding factor.
Blues vs Stars combo
- Mikko Rantanen Over 0.5 assists
- Wyatt Johnston anytime goal
- Dallas Stars moneyline
TOP PICK
Blues vs Stars player prop: Mikko Rantanen Over 0.5 assists
I see value in Rantanen picking up an assist at 60%.
He was a model of consistency for the Stars last season, recording a helper in 66% of his games – and 70% on home soil.
Isolate games in which the Stars were at least -150 moneyline favorites, and Rantanen assisted 73% of the time.
He plays with an elite finisher in Johnston at 5-on-5. He also has the luxury of spoon-feeding Johnston and Jason Robertson – two of just seven players to pot 45 goals – on the man advantage.
The setup couldn’t be much better, and I expect he’ll continue making the most of it.
Blues vs Stars goal scorer: Wyatt Johnston
Johnston was a goal-scoring machine on home soil. He found the back of the net in 50% of his games in Dallas, averaging 0.7 goals per contest.
He’s attached to the hip of Rantanen, and getting him slot looks is clearly a focal point for the Stars.
An advantageous power-play matchup should also lead to extra opportunities in those high-danger areas.
- Top picks: 0-0, +0.0 units
- Combos: 0-0, +0.0 units
Blues vs Stars odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Moneyline: Blues 38% | Stars 63%
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (45%) | Under 6.5 (56%)
- Spread: Blues +1.5 (62%) | Stars -1.5 (40%)
For the full slate of NHL matchups, check out our NHL odds board!
Blues vs Stars trend
Dallas has hit the moneyline in 13 of their last 20 home games (+3.20 units, 12% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends.
How to watch Blues vs Stars
| Location | American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX |
| Date | Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT, truTV |
Blues vs Stars latest injuries
Check out our NHL injuries page for updates on every team.
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