Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Betting Picks

Colorado has won five of seven, but the Avalanche can't wait to redeem themselves after losing 8-6 to Vancouver, the team with the worst record in the NHL, on Wednesday. Mackenzie Blackwood started and allowed six goals before being replaced by Scott Wedgewood, who is the likely starter today. Wedgewood is 27-6-6 with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage with two shutouts this season. Colorado has won 10 of 11 road games, and perhaps it was looking ahead to this game while overlooking the Canucks. Dallas has lost six of eight, although it did get a 3-0 victory over Winnipeg on Thursday. The Stars have averaged only 2.60 goals in their past 10 games. Take the Avalanche.

Dallas has won 10 games in a row while allowing only 2.3 goals per game. Casey DeSmith stopped 20 of 21 shots as the Stars beat Calgary 6-1 on Tuesday. Jake Oettinger is expected back in the net tonight, and he has a 2.67 goals-against average. Oettinger has won eight straight starts, and he has 38 saves on 41 shots in his past two games against Nashville and Vancouver. Colorado has also been getting good goaltending, and it is 5-2-1 UNDER in its past eight games while surrendering 1.9 goals per game. The Avalanche comes off a 5-1 win over Anaheim, and Scott Wedgewood made 27 saves. Mackenzie Blackwood is probable for this game, and he owns a 2.22 GAA and a .916 save percentage with three shutouts this season. Take the UNDER.

The Avalanche have been pointing to this game ever since the Stars eliminated them in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series last season. Colorado defeated Dallas, 7-4 and 4-0, in its last two home games of that series, but lost, 4-2, in Game 7 at Dallas with the Stars scoring the winning goal with less than four minutes left and then adding an empty-netter with three seconds left. These are the top two teams in the Central Division, and Colorado is the better team right now. The Avalanche are 2-0 with a 4-1 road win against the Los Angeles Kings and a 2-1 home win against Utah. The Stars are 1-0. They nearly blew a 5-1 lead in the third period before hanging on to defeat Winnipeg, 5-4, on the road. This is the Stars' second away game in three days, and they are going into high altitude against a super motivated, superior Avalanche team. Take the Avalanche on the puck line.

This series seemed destined to end in a Game 7 as Colorado battled back from a Game 5 loss with a 7-4 victory on Thursday. Dallas has scored nine goals against Mackenzie Blackwood in the past two games, giving them plenty of confidence, and they have home ice for the deciding game. Pete DeBoer has never lost a Game 7 as an NHL coach, and the Avalanche have lost six Game 7s in a row. Colorado coach Jared Bednar is 0-3 against DeBoer in a Game 7. The Stars are 23-5 in their past 28 games after losing by at least three goals, and Colorado has lost six straight playing with one day of rest. The OVER is 5-1-1 in the Avalanche's past seven road games, and the Stars are 4-1-1 OVER against teams that scored at least five goals in their previous game. Dallas is 9-1 OVER at home against Colorado. Take the Stars on the puck line and the OVER.