Stars Edge Streaking Bruins 3-2, Oettinger Stands Tall in Dallas

So much for riding the hot hand. The Bruins rolled into Dallas winners of five straight and averaging five goals per game, only to run face-first into Jake Oettinger's brick wall and drop a 3-2 decision that snapped their streak and cost us our +140 underdog ticket.

Boston's vaunted offense, which had been lighting lamps like a power grid, managed just two goals against an Oettinger who continues to make that small sample size look awfully sustainable. The Stars netminder improved his microscopic goals-against average and reminded everyone why Dallas can win games even when they're not dominating possession. Meanwhile, Jeremy Swayman's elite .934 save percentage wasn't quite elite enough when it mattered.

Dallas did exactly what struggling home teams do when their backs are against the wall—they defended their barn. That 1-2 home record we highlighted? Turns out it motivated them rather than buried them. The Stars improved to 2-2 at home and 5-4 overall, while Boston's 4-1 road record took its first real blemish.

The value was there at +140, no question. But hockey's a funny game—sometimes the team that should win on paper gets outplayed on ice. Credit Dallas for showing up when the numbers said they wouldn't.