Boston Bruins vs. Dallas Stars Prediction & Best Bets (Tuesday, January 20th, 2026)
NHL fans get a tight inter-league matchup on Tuesday night, where the Boston Bruins will be +150 underdogs on the road against the Dallas Stars.
This is a big game for both sides, as the Bruins are a solid 28-19-2 and just two wins behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning in the competitive Atlantic Division. It’s a similar situation for Dallas, as the Stars have a strong 27-13-9 record, and presently reside in second place in the Central Division.
Even if Boston and Dallas still have some work ahead of them to take over their respective divisions, it’s a marquee matchup that will be tough to call. Bettors will be getting quality value no matter which team they back, but winning bets are always better than bets that look appealing on paper.
Join me as I break down the latest odds for this game, while highlighting the top picks and a final Boston Bruins vs. Dallas Stars prediction.
Game Info
- Matchup: Boston Bruins (28-19-2) vs. Dallas Stars (27-13-2)
- Date & Time: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, at 6:30 pm (7:30 pm ET)
- Venue: American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX
- How to Watch:HBO Max, New England Sports Network and TNT
Betting Odds
Take a look at the latest Boston Bruins vs. Dallas Stars odds, courtesy of FanDuel:
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Bruins | +1.5 (-184) | +138 | Over 5.5 (-134) |
Stars | -1.5 (+148) | -166 | Under 5.5 (+110) |
Recent Form & Context
Let’s inspect this matchup closer by analyzing where these teams stand out the most, as well as how healthy they are coming into Tuesday’s showdown:
Boston Bruins
- Boston has one of the top scoring offenses in all of hockey, churning out 3.31 goals per game (8th)
- The Bruins are fantastic in power play, ranking 7th in PP goals (36) and ranking 5th in power play percentage (25.2%).
- Boston has an elite shooting percentage (12.1%), ranking 6th in the NHL.
- The Bruins are respectable defensively, ranking 15th in goals allowed per game and 13th in save rate.
Injuries
- D Henri Jokiharju has been moved off the roster due to a personal matter.
- D Andrew Peeke is listed as day-to-day with an injury.
Dallas Stars
- The Stars offer explosive offense, averaging 3.27 goals per game (10th).
- Dallas excels in power play, having scored 40 goals (3rd) with the third-best power play percentage (28.4%).
- Dallas ranks second in shooting percentage (13%).
- The Stars boast an elite defense, allowing just 2.78 goals per game (6th) and the 7th best save rate (.906) in hockey.
Injuries
- D Lian Bichsel is expected to be out until early February with a lower-body ailment.
Matchup Breakdown
This is a very fun matchup on paper between two gifted offensive teams. Both Boston and Dallas can score up front, while they also do a fantastic job when they have strength in numbers.
Dallas does figure to be the easier team to trust when it comes to putting themselves in advantageous settings (superior penalty kill percentage), while they are also at home and the stronger defensive team overall.
That said, the Bruins are the hotter team. Boston comes in riding a six-game winning streak, whereas the Stars have lost three straight and are just 2-6-2 over their last 10 games.
Playing Styles & Trends
- Boston: The Bruins are a layered team that can attack with even numbers, but are very good in power play and capable defensively. They come in with strong discipline and are a little less reliant on PP than their opponent.
- Dallas: The Stars are one of the best power play offenses in all of hockey, and they are the more balanced team on paper in this matchup. Dallas is very aggressive on the attack, leaning on speed and finishing ability to overpower most teams.
- Special Teams: Both teams are very good at getting into power-play spots and dominating. Being at home and being more aggressive in this regard, the Bruins may have the overall edge.
- Defense: Defensively, the Stars are the more reliable team. Dallas allows far less volume on their net compared to Boston, allowing them to maintain a top-10 save rate and the 6th-best scoring defense in the NHL. Boston is closer to league average across the board defensively.
Betting Market Notes
- Puck Line (1.5: -184/+148): The Stars are a plus-money bet to win by two goals in this one, but you’re losing value if you bet the other way on Boston. Dallas has a +24 scoring differential on the year, however.
- Moneyline (+138/-166): The Bruins are in better form, but they are pretty pedestrian (11-11-1) on the road. That makes them understandably underdogs at +145. Dallas hasn’t been winning much lately, but they are the more balanced team and are tough to beat (12-7-3) on their home ice.
- Total (5.5: -134/+110): The Over is favored, so there’s a decent chance two very good offenses combine for six or more goals. Both defenses are good-to-great, but it’s hard not to side with a good amount of scoring in this one.
Props & Alternative Markets
- Anytime Goal Scorer: This is a really good prop to target, seeing as we get a combined four players with 20+ goals scored on the year. Morgan Geekie (25), Jason Robertson (27), and Wyatt Johnston (25) are your best bets if you want to target this bet when it goes live.
- First to 5 Shots on Goal: Boston offers nice value at +130, and Dallas comes in at -166. As noted, the Stars give up fewer shots on goal, so they look like the logical bet for this prop. The way to flip the script here is if the Bruins get into a power play situation extremely early.
Best Bets for Boston vs. Dallas
Check out my preferred Boston Bruins vs. Dallas Stars bets for tonight:
| Bet | Why Do We Like It? | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Over 5.5 (-134) | Both teams can be tough defensively, but this one has shootout written all over it. The game total is pretty modest considering how good these offenses can be in and out of PP settings. | 8/10 |
Dallas PL -1.5 (+148) | The Stars are solid -166 favorites at home, where they tend to thrive. They have struggled to get wins lately, but they have the edge in this one. You can play it safe with the ML, but I’m going for the PL. | 7/10 |
First to 5 Shots on Goal – Dallas (-166) | Dallas is better at getting into power play and executing there. They also defend their goal better and keep the action away from the net. They’re also at home, so I am digging them across the board. | 7/10 |
Bruins vs. Stars odds have been moving as bettors react to recent form and total action — track shifting puck lines, compare prices across books, and lock in the best value before puck drop at the top sports betting sites.
Risk Factors & What Could Go Wrong
Things don’t always go as planned when betting on the NHL. Here are a few things that could make my Bruins vs. Stars picks falter:
- Elite Defense: I love the offenses in a potentially shootout, but the Bruins are league average defensively, and Dallas can be elite. Each of their last four games failed to top 5.5 total goals, so that could be a problem here.
- Tough Cover: It’s not easy to win by two in hockey – or win at all. Problem A is Dallas getting the win, and then they have to fend off a solid Bruins team by another goal. I like the value associated with the bet, but it’s far from a given.
- Slow Start: This matchup does favor Dallas, but there’s always the chance they get off to a slow start or succumb to Boston via power play.
Boston Bruins vs. Dallas Stars Prediction
If you’re looking for a straight-up Bruins vs. Stars prediction, I am taking Dallas to win. They have been good on their home ice, and they’re the more balanced team. Rolling with their -166 moneyline is probably the safer option, but I think we can and should be a bit more aggressive.
The best bet for this game is the Over. Both of these offenses are very good even outside of their power play dominance. If this turns into a battle of the numbers, both sides can exploit that in a hurry. We have several elite goal scorers in this game, and it offers serious shootout potential.
While true – and that should get us over the hump – I still favor the Dallas defense at home. Their offense is what has struggled during their recent three-game skid, but I think they can snap out of their funk here, and the defense holds off the Bruins enough to not only get the win but also make good on a +148 puck line.
It’s a bit ambitious, but does anyone feel great about eating a -166 ML for a team that has struggled to finish games lately? If we’re going to back Dallas, let’s aim high.
Final Score Prediction: Dallas Stars 4, Boston Bruins 2
