Colorado Avalanche vs
Dallas StarsPredictions & Preview

Colorado Avalanche to Face Off Against Dallas Stars in First-Round Series Opener, Despite Recent Struggles

The Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Dallas Stars in the first game of a best-of-seven first-round series in the Western Conference. Both teams had strong regular seasons, with Colorado finishing third in the Central Division and Dallas finishing second. However, both teams have struggled recently, with Colorado going 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and Dallas losing each of its final seven games. Several key players will be out for both teams, including Gabriel Landeskog and Josh Manson for Colorado and Miro Heiskanen and Nils Lundkvist for Dallas. The current line favors Colorado at -152. For a more detailed prediction, read our in-depth analysis and NHL picks for the Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars matchup. Let's dominate the rink and claim a win!

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Avalanche -152 | Stars +135
• Spread: Avalanche -1.5 (+179) | Stars +1.5 (-210)
• Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Colorado will win straight-up is 60%.

Colorado vs Dallas Stats

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche had a successful regular season, finishing 5th in goals scored and 12th in goals allowed after making changes at the trade deadline. They have the eighth-best power play and 15th-best penalty kill in the league. Nathan MacKinnon led the team in goals, assists, and points, while defenseman Cale Makar also had a strong season. Despite trading Mikko Rantanen mid-season, he still finished as the third-leading point producer for the team. Goalie MacKenzie Blackwood had a solid record with a 2.55 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, and four shutouts. With a power ranking of 17, Colorado is ranked 5th in offense, 13th in defense, and finished the season with a 49-29-4 record.

Dallas Stars Analysis

The Dallas Stars enter the NHL playoffs on a seven-game losing streak, despite finishing the regular season third in goals scored and sixth in goals against. Jason Robertson, the team's leading goal scorer with 35 goals, is expected to play despite being listed as day-to-day. Matt Duchene led the team in assists and points, while mid-season acquisition Mikko Rantanen has contributed five goals and 13 assists in his 20 games played. Goaltender Jake Oettinger had a successful regular season with a record of 36-18-4, a 2.59 GAA, .909 save percentage, and two shutouts. The Stars are ranked 8th in power ranking, have the 3rd best offense in the league, and the 6th best defense. In their last three meetings, Colorado went 1-1-1 against Dallas.

Dallas Stars Struggle in Recent Games; Colorado Avalanche Poised for Playoff Success

The Dallas Stars have faced challenges in their recent performance, losing all seven games in the final stretch of the regular season. During their last 10 games, Dallas had a record of 3 wins, 5 losses, and 2 overtime losses, with an average of 3.1 goals scored per game and 3.5 goals allowed per game. In comparison, the Colorado Avalanche finished with a 5-4-1 record in their final 10 games, averaging 3.1 goals scored and only 2.5 goals allowed per game. The teams met three times during the regular season, with Colorado winning two of those matchups. In their most recent game on March 16, Colorado secured a 4-3 victory in overtime. Since acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood at the trade deadline, Colorado's goaltending has significantly improved, with Blackwood finishing the season with impressive stats. Despite Dallas playing without defenseman Miro Heiskanen in game 1, the Avalanche hold a notable advantage, particularly while playing on the road.

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