Thursday. Puck drop from the American Airlines Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Bruins vs. Stars odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Welcome back to the return of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head matchups and other factors that may play in.

The Dallas Stars (9-5, in the Central Division) are back from a two-game road trip for a matchup against the Boston Bruins (8-7-2, in the Atlantic Division). The Stars bounced back from rough four-game stretch in historic fashion,

Despite the Bruins' win in St. Louis on Tuesday, Boston still lost Hampus Lindholm for a significant stretch due to injury.

The veteran blue liner suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Blues in St. Louis.

Hampus Lindholm had been arguably the Bruins best defenseman this year. Now they'll be without him for the foreseeable future.

Bruins' Trent Frederic could hit the NHL free agent market next July, but it’s unlikely he will be playing for another team until then.

The Bruins could use another top-six forward who can play both down the middle and on the wing. Thus, one interesting player they should have on their radar this season is New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson.

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney could be plotting a major shake-up as the team battles mounting struggles, according to Jimmy Murphy of Responsible Gambler.