Stars vs Avalanche Collection Preview, Prediction & Schedule

• The Colorado Avalanche are the -140 collection favourite of their Spherical 1 Stanley Cup Playoff collection vs the Dallas Stars
• It is a rematch of their 2024 second-round collection
• Learn under for Stars vs Avalanche collection odds, preview, schedule and prediction

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Thank or hate the hockey gods (or the present NHL playoff setup) for this one: there may not be a extra ridiculous Spherical 1 matchup within the NHL Playoffs, when the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche kick off their collection on Saturday. These are two of the highest three groups within the 2025 Stanley Cup odds, with Colorado main the best way with +800 odds at DraftKings. You too can discover Dallas at that quantity over at Bet365 and Caesars, however their finest complete is at +900 at DraftKings.

Arduous to think about {that a} crew that completed with the fourth-most factors within the common season and second-most within the West is by some means the betting underdog in an opening-round playoff collection. Alas, that can occur once you’re going through Colorado, who completed simply 4 factors again of Dallas. It’s the marquee matchup in Spherical 1 of the NHL Playoff Bracket, and we’ll have a look at the collection odds, schedule, and provide my early Stars vs Avalanche prediction.

Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche Collection Odds

Within the Stars vs Avalanche collection odds, the books like Colorado, setting them as -140 favorites to advance to Spherical 2. That’s an implied win chance of 58.33%.

Odds as of April 17, 2025, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Declare the DraftKings promo code to guess on the NHL Playoffs.

Stars vs Avalanche Collection Schedule

This collection will get began on Saturday, with Dallas holding home-ice benefit on this collection. American networks TNT and ESPN alternate protection, whereas people in Canada will have the ability to catch this collection on SportsNet.

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Stars’ Rantanen Faces Former Group

It is a rematch solely by title, because the Stars dumped the Avalanche in Spherical 2 final 12 months to get to the Western Convention Finals.

Maybe the most important change is that Mikko Rantanen is now on the Stars. A pending UFA, the Avalanche dealt him to the Carolina Hurricanes as a part of a 3-team deal in January. Dallas received their arms on him in March across the commerce deadline, inking him to an enormous 8-year, $96 million extension.

The man is already a confirmed playoff performer: Rantanen averages 1.25 factors per recreation, placing him in some rarified air, tied with Mark Messier for sixth in NHL historical past amongst gamers which have performed at the very least 74 video games. He was additionally a Stars demolisher, placing up six objectives and 17 factors in 14 playoff video games in opposition to Dallas.

Now, he’s received the built-in incentive of taking part in a crew that didn’t wish to ante up.

One other key Dallas participant that simply returned to the lineup is Tyler Seguin. After lacking 58 video games with a hip harm, he returned in Dallas’ common season finale. Reunited with linemates Mason Marchemnt and Matt Duchene, he assisted on Marchment’s purpose simply 16 seconds into the primary interval.

That ought to solely assist a crew that was already ranked third in objectives for this season.

I believe the primary purpose Colorado is the betting favourite is that Nathan MacKinnon is the perfect participant on this collection. He completed with 32 objectives and 116 factors this 12 months second within the NHL to Lightning ahead Nikita Kucherov.

They’re additionally blessed with arguably the perfect defenseman in hockey in Cale Makar. He places up a median 1.11 factors per recreation within the playoffs, second in NHL historical past to Bobby Orr amongst defensemen all-time. He led NHL defensemen with 30 objectives and 92 factors.

Whereas each have to indicate as much as get Colorado out of Spherical 1, the Avs have re-shaped their roster on the fly to get thus far, and the way these guys get into the playoff circulation could be simply as vital.

Their goalie tandem is an in-season retool with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. In addition they added blueliners Erik Johnson and Ryan Lindgren, in addition to forwards Charlie Coyle, Jack Drury, Martin Necas and Brock Nelson.

Maybe the most important information, although, is that captain Gabriel Landeskog (bear in mind him?) might be returning this collection after lacking three seasons with a knee harm. It will be his first recreation motion since June 26, 2022, when the Avs beat the Lighting in Recreation 6 of the Stanley Cup Closing.

Stars vs Avalanche Collection Prediction

Once more, this matchup in Spherical 1 is extra like a Western Convention Closing. Colorado is among the few groups within the league that may match Dallas’ scoring, as they rank sixth within the league at 3.33 objectives per recreation.

In addition they personal the benefit with the powerplay, working at a 24.8% clip, good for ninth within the league. We’ll see how that stacks up with Dallas PK, which ranks fifth and kills at a strong 82% clip.

There’s a official case that each these groups could be taking part in for the Stanley Cup this 12 months. Colorado is extra gifted, however Dallas is deeper throughout the roster. That’s why late harm information might matter.

Stars vs Avalanche Head-to-Head Stats

Stars ahead Jason Robertson left the season finale with a lower-body harm, and his standing for each the opener and the collection are in query. He was the crew’s main purpose scorer this 12 months, potting 35 objectives.

In a collection that needs to be wildly entertaining and high-drama, even the slightest benefit might be the distinction.

DAL-COL Prediction:

• Avalanche Collection ML (-140)