Dallas Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 01/01/26

2026 kicks off with 8 NHL games, including a Central Division showdown between the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks. These teams met just 4 days ago in a 4-3 win for Chicago in a shootout. How will this one play out? Here is our Stars vs. Blackhawks prediction.

The Stars have had some tough results over a recent short-term span, as they are 0-1-2 in their last 3 games. While a run like that is not ideal, make no mistake, this is one of the NHL’s best teams. One of those losses came at the hands of these Blackhawks, a loss the Stars will be looking to avenge. Not only do I think Dallas wins, but I think the Stars do it with ease. A team with such high standings and expectations of themselves should already have a desperate attitude to clean their play and get back in the win column. I expect a major effort that the Blackhawks will not be able to handle. Without superstar Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks are a completely different team, and look like they belong at the bottom of the NHL standings. They are 1-7-1 in their last 8 games, and even on home ice I expect this miserable run to continue. For our Stars vs. Blackhawks prediction, take Dallas on the -1.5 puck line.

Stars vs. Blackhawks prediction: Dallas Stars -1.5 (+140) available at time of publishing. Playable at that line to (+110).

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