🏒 Wild vs. Stars Prediction & Odds: NHL Picks Tonight (April 9)

The Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars will play for the fourth time this season in tonight's Central Division showdown. The Wild are riding a four-game winning streak, and they've beaten the Stars in two straight matchups. 

Oddsmakers are leaning slightly toward the Stars at home as -125 moneyline favorites. The goal total is set to 6.5 ahead of a 9 p.m. ET puck drop at American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas), streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

My Wild vs. Stars prediction features a moneyline pick, a correct score prediction at +1300 odds, and a player prop on Joel Eriksson Ek. 

🏒 Wild vs. Stars picks & odds today: April 9

See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 3.0 units | Max profit: 2.74 units

💰 Wild vs. Stars prediction & best bet

Wild ML (+105)

It feels like the wrong team is favored in tonight's contest between the Wild and Stars. Minnesota holds a 2-1 record in this series, and it's riding a four-game win streak into American Airlines Center. 

Minnesota is expected to start Filip Gustavsson in the net, and he previously held the Stars to two goals on 28 saves in a 5-2 win on home ice. Dallas has lost three of its last five games, including a 2-0 shutout against the Avalanche on April 4. 

Expect a tight, low-scoring affair that winds up breaking in the Wild's favor. Bet on the Wild moneyline at plus odds, with overtime likely to occur for the second straight time following Minnesota's 2-1 win on March 21. 

Score prediction: Wild 3, Stars 2 (+1300 odds via FanDuel)

🔥 Best Wild vs. Stars player prop bet

Joel Eriksson Ek Over 0.5 points (-105)

Joel Eriksson Ek isn't mentioned as much as he should be due to the presence of stars like Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy on the Wild's roster. However, he's being mispriced in the total points betting market. 

Eriksson Ek skates on the team's second line and top power-play unit. He's logged at least one point in four straight games for the Wild, and Eriksson Ek finished with a multi-point effort, including a goal, during Minnesota's 5-2 win back in December. 

Go to DraftKings to get the best available line to bet on Eriksson Ek's Over 0.5 points at -105 odds against the Stars tonight. 

📊 Live Wild vs. Stars odds

The Stars opened as a -125 moneyline favorite, before briefly shortening to -130 odds. Now Dallas has returned to -125 odds, indicating public bettors and oddsmakers are beginning to invest in the Wild to extend their win streak to five games. 

Line movement has also happened in the total goals betting market. After opening at 5.5, the total ballooned up to 6.5, then dropped back to 5.5, before rising again to its current 6.5 line. 

Overs are 4-1 in the last five games the Wild have played. Conversely, Unders are 3-2 during the Stars' last five matchups, including low-scoring results like 2-1, 3-0, and 2-0. The contrast in styles has likely led to the volatility in this total goals betting market. 

🚀 Wild vs. Stars same-game parlay

The Wild could extend their win streak to five games if they beat the Stars for the third time this season during Thursday's road contest. Minnesota is 0-1 straight up at American Airlines Center though, and the Stars haven't been playing their best offense lately. 

Neither side needs this win to clinch a playoff berth. Yet the Stars sit two points ahead of the Wild in the Central Division, meaning a win from Minnesota could set the club up for a matchup against a weaker opponent in the playoffs if they jump Dallas. 

Filip Gustavsson and Jake Oettinger both sport a 2.61 GAA or lower. The goal total has also gone Under in five of seven matchups between the Wild and Stars, which is why we're betting Under 6.5. 

Finally, Eriksson Ek's usage on the second line and power-play unit have led to the Wild center being productive down the stretch. Eriksson Ek has notched a point in four straight games while also tallying two points in his last start against the Stars. 

The Wild moneyline, Under 6.5, and Eriksson Ek's over 0.5 points prop gets us to +597 odds for this parlay at DraftKings. 

💵 My betting record for NHL picks

All NHL picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since April 1.

💡 How I'm betting Wild vs. Stars

There's too much value to ignore on the road team. Minnesota has won four consecutive games and is 2-1 SU against the Stars this season, posting back-to-back wins in this matchup. 

Goal totals have been flying Over for the Wild, but I expect that to change against a stout defensive team like the Stars. Plus, we're likely to get two quality goaltenders who tend to show up in significant games, further building a case for Under on 6.5 goals. 

Eriksson Ek's Over 0.5 points prop is our final wager for the Wild vs. Stars. He's being undervalued, especially while riding a four-game point streak. Betting on Eriksson Ek to extend his point streak to five games at -105 odds is too good to pass on. 

Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.

📈 Wild vs. Stars betting trends

🚑 Wild vs. Stars injuries

📺 How to watch Wild vs. Stars

• Date: Thursday, April 9
• Puck drop: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
• Streaming: ESPN+, Hulu