The Dallas Stars visit the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Wednesday night, with puck drop scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. Our Stars vs. Avalanche prediction is Avalanche -1.5 on the puck line, as Colorado looks to complete a home-and-home sweep in the second half of a back-to-back for both clubs.
Colorado beat Dallas 3-2 on Tuesday night in Dallas, with Martin Necas scoring twice and Nathan MacKinnon adding two assists. Both teams are now on the second night of consecutive games, which typically means backup goaltenders in both creases.
As always, make sure you’re wagering with one of the best NHL betting sites before locking in any wagers.
Stars vs. Avalanche Prediction: Avalanche -1.5
Colorado enters the night fourth in the Central Division at 4-2-0, leading the NHL in scoring at better than five goals a game behind a group led by MacKinnon, who has 10 points in five games and a 10-game point streak against Dallas. The Stars, meanwhile, sit at 2-3-1 and rank among the league’s worst in expected goals, a number that has been masked somewhat by Jake Oettinger’s excellent start in net.
The counterpoint is that Oettinger is expected to rest Wednesday after starting Tuesday’s game, leaving Casey DeSmith to face a Colorado attack that has scored first in five of its six games this season. Cale Makar’s status is also worth watching — he missed Tuesday’s game for the birth of his twins, and the Avalanche have not confirmed his availability for the rematch. Even so, we like Colorado to lean on its home-ice advantage and finish off the sweep against a weaker opposing goalie.
Stars vs. Avalanche odds
| Stars moneyline odds | +115 |
| Avalanche moneyline odds | -135 |
| Puck line odds | Avalanche -1.5 (+180), Stars +1.5 (-220) |
| Game total | Over 6.5 goals (-115), Under 6.5 (-105) |
| Date/time | Oct. 14, 8:30 p.m. ET |
Probable starting goaltenders
Dallas: Casey DeSmith (0-1, 2.05 GAA, .923 SV%)
Colorado: Scott Wedgewood (1-0, 3.00 GAA, .897 SV%)
Betting the Stars
Dallas has leaned heavily on Oettinger through the first five games, and with him likely on the bench Wednesday, the Stars will need more from a forward group that has struggled to generate offence. Mikko Rantanen leads Dallas with six points (two goals, four assists) and a plus-five rating, while Jason Robertson has chipped in four points of his own. Wyatt Johnston has also been productive with four assists. The Stars’ penalty kill has been serviceable, but without their No. 1 goaltender, Dallas will be hard-pressed to slow down Colorado’s top-ranked attack.
Betting the Avalanche
Colorado’s offence has been the story of the young season, averaging close to five goals a game behind MacKinnon, Rantanen’s replacement in Necas, and a power play converting at nearly 24 per cent. The Avalanche also get a measure of revenge for Dallas’s side after the Rantanen trade sent him to the Stars, with Necas looking every bit the part after his two-goal effort Tuesday. The concern remains Colorado’s defensive play, which has leaked goals even with a 4-2-0 record, and Makar’s uncertain status for Wednesday only adds to that question mark on the back end.
Player prop trends
- Jason Robertson has recorded at least one point in each of his last four games and is -210 to extend that streak.
- Tyler Seguin has scored in back-to-back games and is +300 to net a goal on Wednesday.
- Seguin has recorded two shots or more in five of six games this season, averaging three per game. He’s -140 to register over 1.5 shots on goal.
