NHL
SPEC
2026-01-15 · Evening Edition
LOSS
Stars vs. Utah
Stars vs. Utah: O/U 5.5 Over
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.