Stars vs Blackhawks Prediction 1/1/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Stars vs Blackhawks Prediction for this NHL game on Thursday, January 1^st. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Chicago Blackhawks Preview

The Blackhawks have 35 points this season with a 14-18-7 record, and are 27-12 ATS and 17-21 in over/under. They have a 7-8-4 home record and a 7-10-3 road record and are sitting 7th in the Central Division. They are coming off a 3-2 home shootout loss to the Islanders, and their previous three games were a 7-3 home loss to the Penguins, a 4-3 road shootout win over the Stars, and a 3-1 home loss to the Flyers.

Offensively, the Blackhawks are averaging 2.74 goals per game and are scoring 20% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.18 goals per game and are killing 83.6% of their opponent’s power plays.

Connor Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 44 points, also leading the team in goals with 19, adding a team-high 25 assists. Spencer Knight is the starting goalie for the Blackhawks, and he has a 10-11-6 record, with 2.62 GAA and .910 SV%. Arvid Soderblom is the backup goalie and he has a 4-7-1 record, with 4.02 GAA and .873 SV%.

Dallas Stars Preview

The Stars have 57 points this season with a 25-8-7 record, and are 17-22 ATS and 19-19 in over/under. They have a 12-6-2 home record and a 13-2-5 road record and are sitting 2nd in the Central Division. They are coming off a 4-1 home loss to the Sabres, and their previous three games were a 4-3 home shootout loss to the Blackhawks, a 4-3 road overtime loss to the Red Wings, and a 5-1 home win over the Maple Leafs.

Offensively, the Stars are averaging 3.49 goals per game and are scoring 30.6% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.62 goals per game and are killing 82.9% of their opponent’s power plays.

Mikko Rantanen leads the Stars with 54 points, also leading the team in assists with 39, while Jason Robertson leads the team in goals with 23. Jake Oettinger is the starting goalie for the Stars, and he has a 16-6-3 record, with 2.51 GAA and .910 SV%. Casey DeSmith is the backup goalie and he has a 9-2-4 record, with 2.33 GAA and .912 SV%.

Dallas Stars @ Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends: January 1, 2026

Why the Chicago Blackhawks will win

• The Blackhawks have won each of their last six home games against the Stars after coming off overtime.
• The Stars have lost each of their last three games as favorites.
• The Stars have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight games as road favorites against Central Division opponents.
• The Blackhawks have covered the puck line in each of their last six home games against Central Division opponents.
• The Blackhawks have won the first period in each of their last five home games against the Stars after coming off overtime.

Why the Dallas Stars will win

• The Stars have won each of their last 11 night games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Blackhawks have lost eight of their last nine games.
• The Stars have covered the puck line in each of their last six road games against the Blackhawks following a home loss.
• The Blackhawks have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four home games.
• The Stars have won the third period in eight of their last nine games against the Blackhawks when trailing after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Stars’ last five road games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Blackhawks’ last seven Thursday games as home underdogs have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Four of the last five games between two teams from the Central Division have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Stars’ last nine games as road favorites.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Blackhawks’ last eight games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.

Chicago Blackhawks Player Prop Facts

• Artyom Levshunov has recorded an assist in four of the Blackhawks’ last five games.
• Connor Bedard has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances against the Stars.

Dallas Stars Player Prop Facts

• Miro Heiskanen has recorded at least one assist in each of the Stars’ last six road games.
• Roope Hintz has scored a goal in six of the Stars’ last seven road games against Western Conference opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Chicago Blackhawks rank 5th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (83.58%).
• The Chicago Blackhawks rank 26th in the league for goals per game this season (2.74).
• The Dallas Stars rank 2nd in the league for goals per game this season (3.43).
• The Dallas Stars rank 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (30.08%).

Stars vs Blackhawks Prediction

In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Blackhawks won 4-3 on the road in a shootout, but the Stars are 7-2 in their 9 meetings before that.

In this Stars vs Blackhawks Prediction, the Stars are coming as -185 road favorites. The Stars have been the better team this season but they are in a brutal scheduling spot, playing the second leg of a back-to-back on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and have three consecutive losses. The Blackhawks have also been struggling, as they are 1-8 in their last 9 games and have been far weaker than the Stars both offensively and defensively. Stars will start Oettinger today so I expect them to bounce back and get away with the road win. Take the Stars on the moneyline.