The Colorado Avalanche (49-15-10) and Dallas Stars (45-19-12) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. EDT at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The game will be broadcast live on ABC.
The Avalanche are favored by 1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-115o / -107u). The Avalanche are a -115 favorite to win outright, while the Stars are -107 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Avalanche vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks.
Avalanche vs. Stars Odds, Pick
| Avalanche Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +230 | 6.5 114o / -135u | -115 |
| Stars Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -285 | 6.5 114o / -135u | -105 |
- Avalanche vs. Stars Spread: Avalanche -1.5 (+230), Stars +1.5 (-285)
- Avalanche vs. Stars Over/Under: 6 (-115o / -107u)
- Avalanche vs. Stars Moneyline: Avalanche -115, Stars -107
Avalanche vs Stars Polymarket Odds
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Current odds: AVA 52% · STA 49% · NHL
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Avalanche vs. Stars Preview
Colorado Avalanche
On the bright side, the Avalanche have scored 15 goals in their past two games. The problem is, the most recent game, they fell at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks by the score of 8-6.
After starting the season 31-2-7, Colorado has certainly taken a hit to its productivity.
I'm a firm believer in the teams that start on a blazing heater, usually end up flattening the curve, and that's exactly where the Avs are going with an 18-13-3 record.
It's not terrible, but after what we saw, anything below is a disappointment. And losing to the Canucks didn't help.
Regardless, you'd be silly not to be a believer in this squad. The Avs are playing to a top-10 expected goals rate over the past two weeks, with a top-10 xGA/60.
With Colorado missing Cale Makar for a few games, that's extremely troublesome. He's possibly the greatest defenseman in the game right now, and is a catalyst for how the Avs play on both ends of the ice. Without Makar, Colorado misses a dynamic skater with elite accuracy, skating, and a two-way game.
In net, I don't think you can go wrong with either goalie here. Scott Wedgewood has given the Avs the best chance to win, though, as he's playing to a 10.6 GSAx over his last 10 games, as well as an .890 SV%. However, that save percentage can be a little skewed because of an outlier game where he let up three goals on five shots.
Dallas Stars
The Stars are in a similar position to their counterparts, as they've been a dominant squad all season long, but the month of March brutally beat them down.
Dallas ended up going 9-5-2 last month, which doesn't seem so bad. However, it finished off the month losing in seven of its last nine. Eventually, the Stars got back on the hump by beating the Jets 3-0 on Thursday.
But a lot of it has been because of injuries. The Olympics took out several key players on this team in Roope Hintz and Radek Faksa. Even Mikko Rantanen was out for a while, before he came back two games ago.
Dallas will also be without depth forwards Sam Steel and Michael Bunting, as well as veteran defenseman Tyler Myers.
I think once the playoffs start, we'll start to see more of the Stars we've become accustomed to. Rest those players up, and with seven games left, Dallas will likely be chilling until the season ends.
In goal, the Stars have received exceptional netminding from Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith.
Because today is a big game and can have seeding ramifications, I anticipate Oettinger starting, but you never know with hockey coaches anymore.
However, Otter has had a lot of success against the Avs, playing to a .911 SV% over the 13 regular-season games they've played. He's also been the victor of two of the last three games against Colorado, with the lone loss being an overtime loss.
Avalanche vs. Stars Prediction
This is a highly anticipated game that probably won't serve its full potential because of how shorthanded each team is.
Regardless, the atmosphere is going to be electric no matter what.
My bets have not been hitting at all, so I don't blame you if you end up fading me. But I'm still going to trust the process.
If the matchup between Wedgewood and Oettinger is confirmed, I think this has a strong chance at reaching overtime.
The three times these teams have squared off, they've all reached overtime, and I am fully in on following the trends. Oettinger plays Colorado really tight, and Wedgewood has mainly won against his old team while playing for the Avs.
What's funny is that the only time he's played in Dallas during the regular season was coming in relief. The rest of those games took place in Denver.
Let's get this into overtime, and have an exciting game on ABC.
Pick: 60 Minute Draw (+310, DraftKings)
