Oilers vs Stars Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 2

Parker's pick and prediction: After Game 1 slipped through their grasp, the Edmonton Oilers have learned the hard lesson of knowing what to avoid against the Dallas Stars.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
May 23, 2025 • 16:34 ET • 4 min read
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This article contains predictions for an old game!

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Edmonton Oilers NHL Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Photo By - Imagn Images. Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) looks for a loose puck against the Edmonton Oilers.

The Dallas Stars struck first in the Western Conference Final, skating to a 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1. Now, all eyes are on Game 2 at American Airlines Center this Friday, May 23.

Edmonton unraveled in the third period, and that late-game letdown proved costly. But with the series still wide open, our Oilers vs. Stars predictions see value in backing a bounce-back from the Oilers before the action shifts to Rogers Place.

Don’t miss our top NHL picks and betting insights for Game 2—because this series is far from over, and there’s opportunity on the board.

Who will win Oilers vs Stars Game 2?

Don’t let the 6-3 final in Game 1 fool you—Edmonton had the edge at even strength, winning both the possession and expected goals battles. Superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were their usual dominant selves, and it’s unlikely Dallas replicates their three power-play goals in under six minutes like they did to open the third period.

With those factors in mind, back an Edmonton redemption game.

Oilers vs Stars prediction

My Oilers vs Stars pick: Oilers moneyline (+110 at BET99)

The Edmonton Oilers drove five-on-five possession with a 55.5 Corsi For percentage and won the expected-goals battle at 59% clip in Game 1. Edmonton also held a 3-1 lead going into the third period before surrendering five unanswered to the Dallas Stars.

I’m not overreacting to a sloppy final frame from the Oil. Dallas scored three times with the man advantage and added an empty-net goal.

Edmonton starter Stuart Skinner did his job at 5-on-5 with a .909 save percentage and 0.10 goals saved above expected. A repeat performance will lay the foundation for an Oilers win in Game 2 because I’m not anticipating another parade to the penalty box.

Additionally, the Edmonton offense was solid. 

Connor McDavid’s line with Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finished with a 75.0 CF% and 84.4 xGF% at 5-on-5, while Leon Draisaitl also drove possession with a 61.3 CF% despite having a carousel of wingers on his flanks.

This has the makings of a long, hard-fought series, and I fully expect McDavid and Draisaitl to lead the way in winning fashion to send this series back to Rogers Place tied 1-1.

Oilers vs Stars same-game parlay (SGP)

Oilers moneyline

Under 6.5

Thomas Harley Under 0.5 points

There were only 17 high-danger scoring chances and 4.64 expected goals at 5-on-5 in Game 1, and as noted, Dallas scored three power-play goals and added an empty-net tally to boost the final score.

Neither head coach will be looking for another high-scoring game, and both teams played well defensively at 5-on-5 in the series opener.

Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Stars defenseman Thomas Harley has missed the scoresheet in two of his past three games, and he’s dipped to the No. 2 power-play unit with partner Miro Heiskanen all the way back from his knee injury.

Additionally, Harley and Heiskanen played primarily against the two best Edmonton lines at 5-on-5, and Harley finished with a 42.9 CF% and 40.0 xGF%.

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Oilers vs Stars odds

Oilers vs Stars live odds

Oilers vs Stars opening odds

  • Puck line: Edmonton +1.5 | Dallas -1.5
  • Moneyline: Edmonton +111 | Dallas -125
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Odds courtesy of BET99

Oilers vs Stars trend

The Oilers have hit the Under in 32 of their last 55 away games (+8.70 Units / 15% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Stars.

How to watch Oilers vs Stars

Location American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date Friday, 5-23-2025
Puck drop 8:00 p.m. ET
TV ESPN, SN

Oilers vs Stars latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Neil Parker - Covers
Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs with Sportsbook Review, USA TODAY, theScore, DraftKings Playbook, and RotoWire, among many others. He also co-hosted the Daily Fantasy Edge podcast and can now be seen offering expert golf and hockey advice on Covers’ Before you Bet broadcast.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

Neil’s top pieces of advice for recreational bettors are to stay within your means and to remember sportsbooks aren’t bank accounts. Don’t be afraid to pull those winnings and treat yourself to a lifetime experience courtesy of a big win.

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