Lane Hutson has begun shooting the puck regularly, and he'll continue that trend against the Stars this afternoon.
NHL
The Montreal Canadiens are right back in action against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, January 4. This marks the first matchup between these two teams since Dallas took a 7-0 beating back in November.
My Canadiens vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks suggest we may be in for another higher-scoring affair, with the Canadiens’ usual suspects going to work.
Canadiens vs Stars best bet: Lane Hutson Over 1.5 shots on goal (-105)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has never typically been one to fire a ton of pucks on net, but he seems to be changing that narrative as of late.
Despite the 2-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues yesterday, he hit the Over for shots for the fifth time in the last six games.
The sophomore defenseman has 40 points in 41 games and should be in line to munch some heavy minutes against a strong Dallas Stars team today.
He’s played over 28 minutes in three of the last six games, which means he’ll have plenty of ice time to eclipse this modest shot total.
Juraj Slafkovsky has seemingly struck gold with linemates Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen. After a slow start to the season, the Slovakian forward is now on pace for career bests across the board.
He’s racked up 10 points over his last eight games, producing multi-point outings in half of those games.
I expect this matinee affair to produce a flurry of goals, with both starting goaltenders enduring their fair share of struggles this season.
Jakub Dobes, despite a 13-5-3 record, boasts a 3.01 GAA and .889 SV%. Jake Oettinger, despite a 16-7-3 record, sports a .907 save percentage.
The Habs — already a poor defensive team — are also playing the second half of a back-to-back.
Dallas has won three of the last four meetings against Montreal, but has lost the last three that took place at home. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Stars.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Luc has been passionate about sports since he was a child, playing competitive hockey and staying closely tuned to professional leagues. Today, he brings that same energy to his work as a Content Editor, covering NHL games, player props, and betting trends with a sharp, analytical eye.
Since 2023, Luc has been writing picks and analysis for various publications, helping readers discover value in several major sports. While hockey is his specialty, he also closely follows tennis, keeping up with both the ATP and WTA Tours.
A graduate of Saint Mary’s University (BSc, Geography, 2025), Luc approaches sports betting the way he approaches maps and statistics by looking for patterns, trends, and angles that give him an edge. He focuses on research-backed and well-informed picks, spotting correlations, and finding the best opportunities in player props and game markets.
When he’s not making data-driven betting decisions or breaking down NHL matchups, you’ll find Luc on the ice, hitting the tennis courts, or engaging in some other form of exercise — staying connected to the sports he loves.
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