Dallas deserves a world of credit; they found a way to gut out a seven game series without two key cogs beating what I would call a better team in the Avalanche. Unfortunately for Dallas all signs point to life continuing without their top dman Miro Heiskanen for Game 1. Injury questions abound both ways: Jason Robertson (Dallas), Mark Scheifele (WPG), and Josh Morrissey (WPG) all remain GTD. Narrative or not I think Connor Hellebuyck found something in Game 7 that carries forward here and if none of the players mentioned above play I make the Jets a more substantial home favorite in Game 1. I'm on the Jets here to continue the incredible run of play this postseason in the Peg.

Connor Hellebuyck's performances in the Jets goal must be divided into home and road, while considering his playoff performance and results this season vs. Dallas. Hellebuyck's Vezina and perhaps Hart Award candidacies largely stay relevant because of his numbers at home, that include a 1.68 GAA at Canada Life Centre. Against Dallas this season, Hellebuyck was also very solid, with a 1.01 GAA in four starts. Though Bucky's playoff shortcomings are well-documented. We almost think Dallas has the edge in goal in this series with Jake Oettinger, though he did lose three of four starts vs. Winnipeg this season. None of the four regular-season meetings cleared five goals, either. Play Stars-Jets Under.

Both of these sides could have used a few more days off after their respective Game 7s. Though the Jets took it to extremes in their Sunday win vs. the Blues, waiting until the last second to level the score then taking nearly 2 OTs to finally succeed thanks to Adam Lowry. Still, Connor Hellebuyck (3.85 GAA, .830 saves) had another shaky opening round in goal, and Dallas might have shown a bit more in its own fightback to take out the favored Avs. It looks now beyond question that Mikko Rantanen has found a home with the Stars as his third-period hat trick in Game 7 confirms, and at this stage we might prefer Jake Oettinger in the nets. Play Stars on Money Line