Avalanche vs. Stars Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest NHL Odds Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round
The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars will meet at the American Airlines Center on Saturday night to get their Stanley Cup Playoffs first round series underway. Can Cale Makar and the Avs pick up a road win as favorites? Matt MacKay is targeting this talented Colorado team in his Avalanche vs. Stars prediction for the first round of the NHL postsesaon.
Matt MacKay - April 19, 2025, 5:22 PM EDT
4 minAvalanche vs. Stars Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest NHL Odds Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round
One of the best 1st Round series in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs starts tonight when the Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche for Game 1 at American Airlines Center. Oddsmakers currently value the Avalanche, making the Stars a home underdog with +130 odds on their moneyline.
Colorado won the regular season series, 2-1, beating Dallas in their most recent matchups 4-3 and 6-3. The Stars were one of the best teams at home this season at 28-10-3. However, they are riding a seven-game losing skid into Game 1 tonight, which includes four consecutive losses on home ice. The Avalanche are 4-5 SU in their last nine games.
NHL handicapper Matt MacKay is here to share his best game pick to place between the Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars on Saturday night using the latest odds. Follow Matt's X account for more NHL betting insight and free picks during the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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AVALANCHE VS. STARS ODDS
- Spread: Avalanche -1 (+100), Stars +1 (-137)
- Moneyline: Avalanche (-146), Stars (+130)
- Total: Over 7.5 (+215), Under 7.5 (-310)
Click here for complete Avalanche vs. Stars Odds
AVALANCHE VS. STARS DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
- Time: 8:30 PM ET
- How to Watch: TNT, truTV, Max
AVALANCHE VS. STARS PREDICTION
Colorado is healthier than Dallas entering Game 1 on the road tonight. The Stars have already confirmed they'll be playing without F Jason Robertson due to a knee injury, removing their top goal-scorer from the lineup. Dallas D Miro Heiskanen remains sidelined with a knee injury, but could return later in this series.
The Avalanche are led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar on offense. MacKinnon recorded the most assists (84) in the NHL this season and the addition of Martin Necas, replacing Mikko Rantanen, boosted Colorado's potent first-line attack.
The game plan is simple for Dallas. Don't leave MacKinnon open in the offensive zone and force others to step up in his place. This is a task easier said than done.
The Stars have surrendered at least four goals in six of their seven games during this active losing slump. Jake Oettinger is confirmed in the crease for Dallas tonight and he'll look for a bounce-back effort at home against the league's fifth-best scoring offense.
The Avalanche are expected to deploy Mackenzie Blackwood in the crease against Dallas for Game 1. Blackwood came over from San Jose earlier this season and he's been solid in between the pipes for Colorado. Despite his relative success, Blackwood didn't start during either of the Avalanche wins over the Stars.
Dallas still has a lot of talented scorers on its roster tonight. Wyatt Johnston, Matt Duchene, Roope Hintz and Mason Marchment all have at least 22 goals this season. Plus, Mikko Rantanen, formerly a Colorado Avalanche first-line forward, will face his former team on the Stars' third-line attack tonight.
Tyler Seguin is back in Dallas' lineup, joining Duchene and Marchment on the second line. Jamie Benn, Johnston, and Rantanen are a talented third-line, while Roope Hintz leads the first-line with Mikael Granlund and Evgenii Dadonov.
Dallas has way more depth than Colorado's offense. Yet the X-factor is Colorado's talented and versatile defenseman, Cale Makar. Makar finished the regular season with 92 points, including 30 goals, so he'll be a matchup-nightmare for the Stars' short-handed defense.
Odds have moved in favor of Colorado, opening with the Stars at +102, then moving to its current price at +130. The total has also shot up from 5.5 to 7.5 total goals, likely due to both goaltenders playing poorly down the stretch.
The underdogs have won each of Dallas' last seven games played, which has resulted in the Stars failing to cover the puck line during every loss. Colorado is in a good spot as a road favorite coming off of a win, beating the Ducks 4-2 during the regular season finale. This trend is 6-0 across the last week.
It's very tempting to bet on a home underdog with as much talent as the Stars. However, I can't back Dallas until I see them find a way to end their losing slump. Oettinger is a mess right now, plus the Stars are missing their best goal scorer and defenseman. MacKinnon and Makar are undoubtedly the best players on the ice tonight.
Let's drink the juice and bet a unit on Colorado's moneyline in a hostile road environment on Saturday night.
AVALANCHE VS. STARS PICK
- Pick: Colorado Avalanche Moneyline (-146) Click here to see the latest Avalanche vs. Stars odds
NHL ODDS
