← Back to picks
NHL SPEC 2026-01-15 · Evening Edition LOSS

Stars vs. Utah

Stars vs. Utah: O/U 5.5 Over
30%
Entry Price
$57K
Volume
9:00 PM ET
Game Time (ET)
-0.29u
P&L

ANALYSIS

Our confidence in the Over 5.5 is fueled by the Stars' elite power play, which currently ranks 2nd in the NHL (28.47%) and faces a Utah penalty kill struggling at a 78.4% efficiency rate. Following Utah’s explosive 6-1 victory over Toronto and the recent defensive vulnerability of a Stars unit missing top defenseman Miro Heiskanen, both teams are trending toward high-scoring outcomes. With Stars captain Jamie Benn back in the lineup and Utah's Dylan Guenther coming off a two-goal performance, the offensive metrics suggest this matchup will comfortably exceed the 5.5-goal threshold.
Key Data
Power Play Success: 4th, PK xGA: +12% vs League Avg

OUTCOME

Utah 2 - Stars 1
A goaltending duel between Karel Vejmelka and Jake Oettinger resulted in only three total goals. Both teams prioritized defensive zone integrity over offensive risks, leading to a low-event game that never threatened the 5.5 total.

FULL BREAKDOWN

Listen to the Evening Episode →
Full analysis and discussion of this pick in the 2026-01-15 evening edition.