On January 5, 2025, hockey fans will be treated to thrilling matchups as both the NHL and KHL showcase key games. The NHL will feature the Dallas Stars facing the Utah Jazz at 4:00 PM MSK, and the KHL match will see Metallurg taking on Amur at 2:30 PM MSK.
The Dallas Stars are coming off several strong performances and are eager to cement their position among the playoff contenders. According to reports from Metaratings, just before their recent short break, Dallas managed to defeat their upcoming match opponent, Utah, 3-2 on the road. This recent form is encouraging as Dallas prepares to go head-to-head with Utah once again. They confidently secured victories against lower-ranked teams like Chicago, Buffalo, and Ottawa, thereby enhancing their standings. Currently, the Stars hold the seventh position in the Western Conference, edging out the ninth-place Calgary Flames by four points.
On the other hand, the Utah Jazz are still seeking consistency, as they finally tasted victory after five previous losses by overcoming Calgary. Nonetheless, they remain at 11th place and must collect at least four points to keep hopes alive for playoff progression.
The matchup history between the Stars and Utah this season has seen Dallas dominate, winning both encounters: 2-1 and 3-2. Various betting odds indicate Dallas will likely emerge victorious again, with betting analysts at FONBET offering odds of 1.90 for Dallas's win during regulation time and 1.55 for the overall victory, including overtime and shootouts.
Next, the KHL matchup features Metallurg competing against Amur at the Arena-Metallurg. The home team, Metallurg, has undergone challenging times at the onset of the current season but has turned things around, especially by the end of December when they claimed five consecutive wins against formidable opponents. Their recent form places them fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Contrarily, Amur has not fared well this season, suffering losses consistently and landing at the bottom of the table with only two wins from their last nine matches. The team is now set on building for the next season rather than focusing on playoff aspirations, which seems bleak at this point.
When Metallurg and Amur faced each other earlier this season, Metallurg secured the win at 2-1. They have triumphed over Amur three times consecutively, showcasing their dominance. Betting enthusiasts can expect Metallurg to continue this streak, with betting odds of 1.50 for a win during regular time and even lower odds favoring their success accounting for overtime and shootouts.
Overall, both matchups on January 5 promise to be captivating. For the NHL game, analysts recommend placing bets on Dallas's outright win and possibly on exceeding 3.5 goals for the Dallas team. For the KHL contest, suggest betting on Metallurg's success with a handicap of (-1.5), and anticipate low scoring from Amur, likely allowing them fewer than 1.5 goals. Both games offer various betting avenues for fans eager to engage with the action.