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The Dallas Stars (42-21-2) make the final stop on a 4-game road trip Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche (40-24-3) at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT / truTV / Max). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Stars vs. Avalanche odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Tied 1-1
Home team and favorite is 2-0 in 2 meetings this season. In the most recent meeting, Colorado won 6-3 at home Jan. 18 as D Cale Makar notched 2 goals, including a power-play marker. LW Jason Robertson also had 2 goals, including a power-play score, and an assist.
Dallas lost 4-1 at the Winnipeg Jets on Friday as the Under (5.5) cashed. The Stars dropped 2 of the first 3 games on the trip, and Dallas is 1-3-0 in the past 4 road outings. The Under is 3-1 in the past 4 games, too.
Colorado doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2 Friday as heavy favorites (-195) as the Over (5.5) connected. The Avs are 7-0-1 in the past 8 outings, with only a 2-1 shootout loss to the Wild in Minnesota Monday as the lone blemish.
Stars RW Mikko Rantanen, who scored a goal in Dallas on Nov. 29 as a member of the Avalanche, makes his first appearance in Denver since being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, and then to Dallas, prior to the NHL trade deadline.
That’s one of a few storylines in this matchup. These teams are also angling for second-place in the Central Division, with Dallas ahead by 3 points with 2 games in hand.
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Stars at Avalanche odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:16 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Stars +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Avalanche -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars +1.5 (-220) | Avalanche -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Stars at Avalanche projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (30-15-2, 2.52 GAA, .907 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Mac Blackwood (24-16-6, 2.50 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO)
Oettinger has struggled since the 4 Nations Face-off Tournament break, allowing 3 or more goals in 5 of 7 starts. He has coughed up 9 goals on 49 shots in the past 2 games, and he is 2-2-0 with a 3.47 GAA and .882 SV% in 4 starts in March.
Oettinger allowed 3 goals on 32 shots in a 5-3 victory against the Avalanche in a meeting Nov. 29 in Dallas.
Blackwood allowed just a single goal on 23 shots in a 2-1 SOW in Minnesota in his most recent appearance Tuesday. He is 2-0-1 with a 2.61 GAA and .897 SV% in 3 starts in March.
He appeared in a start with the San Jose Sharks in Dallas on Nov. 20, allowing 3 goals on 29 shots prior to him being acquired by the Avalanche in early December. He also stopped 36 of 38 shots in a 3-2 SOW in Dallas on Oct. 15 with the Sharks.
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Stars at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 4, Stars 3
Moneyline
The AVALANCHE (-135) are a solid play on home ice in this clash of Western titans. Colorado is looking to spoil the homecoming of Rantanen, who is now Public Enemy No. 1 after signing a long-term contract extension with the Stars (+115).
The home team and favorite has cashed in each of the first 2 meetings, and that trend is expected to continue in a close one Sunday.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Stars +1.5 (-220) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward. If you like Dallas, just play it straight up.
AVOID.
Over/Under
OVER 6 (+100) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.
The total has cashed high in each of the first 2 meetings, with 8.5 combined goals.
The Over is 6-2-1 in the past 9 meetings in this series, too. There is plenty of firepower on both sides, so expect at least 7 total goals.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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