Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. In this series, our team here at Last Word on Hockey breaks down head-to-head matchups and other key elements that may influence the outcome of each game each day. This edition of NHL Predictions dissects the Tuesday, February 25, 2025 matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Stars 1-0 Blue Jackets
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: ESPN+, Victory+, FanDuel Sports Network
The Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets battle for the second and final time of the 2024-25 NHL regular season as Dallas continues a road trip in Columbus.
The teams met earlier this month, with Dallas taking a 5-3 win on home ice on February 2nd. Although Dallas got the win, Columbus was the aggressor in the early going, jumping out to a 3-2 lead. However, forward Wyatt Johnston scored a rare power-play goal in the second period to tie the game at three. Dallas forward Evgenii Dadonov then scored twice in the third period to give Dallas the win.
Can Columbus even the series on home ice or will Dallas complete the sweep? NHL Predictions gets you ready for an important late-February duel.
The Stars Story
Dallas is one of the hottest teams in the NHL, going 8-1-1 in its last 10 games and returning from the Four Nations Face-Off break with two wins. The Stars have scored at least four goals in four straight games and have the second-best record in the Western Conference.
Forward Jason Robertson has hit his stride over the last two months and netted a hat trick in the second period of Sunday’s win over the New York Islanders. He and the other top-six forwards are the leaders of Dallas’ offence, and when they play well, the attack just does not stop. The Stars will need them the rest of the way as they contend for the Western Conference title.
Dallas’ defence has dodged some bullets during the winning streak, but it needs to be better all around. Too many teams have been able to either take early leads or make late comebacks against the Stars and there is only so much their goaltending can do to survive and advance.
The Blue Jackets Story
Columbus is fighting for its playoff chances, sitting in a tie with the Ottawa Senators for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets have been on the wrong end of most games this month, dropping four in a row before a 5-1 win over Chicago on Saturday.
Columbus’ five goals were the most it had scored in a month. Forward Kent Johnson led the charge with two early goals. Defenceman Zach Werenski — fresh off a solid performance for the United States in the Four Nations Face-Off — was one of three additional Blue Jackets to score.
Werenski leads the team with 62 points this season, while Johnson is tied for second with 19 goals. Kirill Marchenko leads with 21, and Elvis Merzlkins has been their best netminder.
NHL Prediction
The Stars are in the midst of one of their powerful scoring streaks, but they have also had some defensive lapses during that same span. The Blue Jackets also have proven scorers, but their goaltending performances have been much worse. Dallas has earned wins in each of its last two trips to Columbus, and it is difficult to pick against the Stars when it all seems to be clicking so well.
NHL Predictions: Stars win 4-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
Dadonov (+145) has 11 points in 18 career games against Columbus, including four points in his last three appearances. Dallas’ Mason Marchment (+100) also has a three-game point streak against the Jackets and has 12 points in 13 career matchups. Marchenko, who has a goal and an assist over his last two games against the Stars, is +225 for an any-time goal.
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Main Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: Feb 25 Dallas Stars vs Columbus Blue Jackets appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.