Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Seattle +140 over Dallas 

8:00 PM EST This is a classic situational value play rooted in post-Olympic psychology. The Dallas Stars sent seven players to the Olympics — one of the highest totals in the league — including Radek Faksa (CZE), Thomas Harley (CAN), Miro Heiskanen (FIN), Roope Hintz (FIN), Esa Lindell (FIN), Jake Oettinger (USA), and Mikko Rantanen (FIN). That’s not just depth guys — that’s core contributors up front, on the blue line, and in goal. The emotional high of representing your country, the intensity of short-format international play, and then jumping right back into the grind of the NHL schedule creates a legitimate letdown spot. You can’t replicate Olympic intensity in a Tuesday night regular-season game.

There’s also the physical and mental fatigue angle. International tournaments compress high-pressure hockey into a short window — elimination games, national pride, travel, media obligations — and then players are expected to seamlessly re-enter structured team systems and heavy minutes. For a team like Dallas that relies heavily on its top-end talent to drive possession and scoring, even a slight dip in sharpness or urgency can flatten their edge. Seven players returning from that stage means chemistry timing, energy levels, and emotional focus could all be slightly off — and at NHL margins, “slightly” is everything.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken only sent two players overseas, meaning the bulk of this roster stayed in rhythm, practiced together, and maintained routine. That continuity matters. Seattle comes in fresher, more stable, and likely hungrier, facing a Dallas team that just experienced the emotional peak of the season. As a home favorite inflated by reputation and star power, Dallas may not be priced correctly for this situational dip. At this price Seattle offers strong value in what sets up as a classic post-Olympic mental letdown spot for the Stars.

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