Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 22 2026
Mikko Rantanen must have been driving Boston nuts Tuesday night. Every time the Bruins got ahead, there he was. Rantanen scored all three Dallas goals, including the winner in overtime, and the Stars walked away with a 3-2 victory. That’s three straight wins for Dallas, which is starting to look a lot more like the team everybody expected.
Winnipeg isn’t having nearly as much fun. The Jets lost 2-1 in St. Louis Tuesday, their third straight defeat, and they’ve dropped four of five. They put 33 shots on Joel Hofer and got one goal. That’s frustrating hockey, especially when your goalie is doing his part.
The Jets visit American Airlines Center in Dallas on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET, with coverage on TSN3, KDFW 4, and Prime Video. Dallas is around -178 on the moneyline, Winnipeg is +178, and the total is 5.5 goals. For more predictions, check out our free NHL picks.
Winnipeg Jets Need Somebody To Start Scoring
Winnipeg has lost three straight, and Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat in St. Louis was another one that probably had everybody shaking their heads. Cole Perfetti tied the game early in the third period, but the Blues answered on a Philip Broberg power-play goal. That was it. The Jets had chances, plenty of them, but couldn’t get another puck past Hofer. They’ve lost four of five now, and it’s getting to the point where a couple of goals would feel like an offensive explosion.
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The Jets aren’t playing terrible hockey every night. That’s what makes this stretch so annoying. They’re getting shots, but too many are coming from spots where the goalie can see them. They need somebody parked in front, looking for rebounds and making life miserable for the defensemen. Dallas has been playing better lately, so Winnipeg isn’t likely to get a lot of free chances. And the Jets can’t afford another careless penalty like the one that cost them against St. Louis. Dallas has too many dangerous shooters for that.
Kyle Connor is still the guy I’d want with the puck if Winnipeg needs a goal. Mark Scheifele can make things happen too, and Josh Morrissey gives the Jets offense from the blue line. Perfetti scored against St. Louis, but one goal isn’t going to get it done most nights. Stuart Skinner made 26 saves Tuesday and gave Winnipeg every chance to win. The Jets need to return the favor. Their goaltending has been good enough to keep them in games, but somebody has to finish a few of those chances.
Dallas Stars Are Starting To Get Rolling
Dallas has won three straight after beating Boston 3-2 in overtime Tuesday. The Stars had to come from behind twice, and Rantanen took care of both tying goals before finishing the hat trick in overtime. Boston had been playing some excellent hockey, so that’s a good win. Dallas didn’t dominate the game, but it found a way to win against a tough opponent. That’s usually a good sign.
The Stars have plenty of scoring talent, and they’re starting to get more comfortable offensively. Rantanen can take over a game, Jason Robertson can create chances, and the defensemen get involved when there’s room. But Dallas hasn’t been perfect. Boston led twice Tuesday, and the Stars had to chase the game most of the night. They’d probably prefer to get ahead of Winnipeg early and make the Jets come after them. With the way Winnipeg has been scoring lately, that could be enough.
Rantanen’s three goals against Boston were his 11th regular-season hat trick. Robertson assisted on two of them, and Jake Oettinger made 18 saves. Dallas also killed all four Boston power plays, which was a big part of the win. Miro Heiskanen remains an important part of the offense from the blue line, and the Stars have enough depth that opponents can’t just worry about Rantanen. When Dallas is getting contributions from different lines, it’s a tough team to beat.
Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions
Dallas Stars Moneyline (-178)
I’ll take Dallas, but I don’t love that price. Minus 178 is a lot to lay in an NHL game, especially against a Winnipeg team that still has some dangerous players. Connor can score, Scheifele can make plays, and Skinner has been giving the Jets a chance. But Dallas is playing better hockey right now, and Rantanen is coming off a hat trick against Boston. Winnipeg has lost three straight and can’t seem to finish its chances. I’m not going to bet on that changing against Oettinger. Dallas wins, although I’d be careful about laying anything much higher than the current number.
Under 5.5 Goals
I’m going under 5.5. Winnipeg hasn’t been scoring enough, and Dallas has been doing a better job defensively during this winning streak. Skinner played well against St. Louis, and I think he’ll give the Jets another chance Thursday. Oettinger should be able to handle a Winnipeg offense that’s been struggling to finish. Rantanen is the obvious problem for an under bet. He just scored three by himself, and Dallas can put up a big number when it gets rolling. But I think Winnipeg will try to slow things down after losing three straight. Dallas 3, Winnipeg 2.
Final Picks: Dallas Stars Moneyline (-178) and Under 5.5 Goals (price dependent)
This preview was completed October 21, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting goaltenders may change before puck drop.
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