The Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars meet in Game 7 of their Western Conference best-of-7, first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Saturday. Puck drop at American Airlines Center in Dallas is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Avalanche vs. Stars odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Series: Tied 3-3

The Avalanche and Stars face off in a decisive Game 7, and it will be the fourth time these teams meet in a winner-take-all playoff game. Dallas won each of the first 3 meetings — 2020 second round, 2000 Conference Final and 1999 Conference Final).

We have some interesting coaching history, too, as Stars coach Pete DeBoer has a perfect 8-0 record in Game 7’s, while Avalanche coach Jared Bednar is 0-3 in those games.

The Avalanche have managed a 6-10 record in franchise history in Game 7 playoff games, dropping each of the past 6 installments. That includes a 2020 loss to the Stars in the COVID playoffs as LW Joel Kiviranta recorded a hat trick, including the winner in overtime, to lead Dallas to a victory. A few years later, the Avalanche signed Kiviranta as a free agent in November 2023 — he had 16 goals and 7 assists this past regular season, but is scoreless in this series. Will he be a hero in Game 7 again, but this time for Colorado?.

Dallas Stars G Jake Oettinger has been strong in his past 3 Game 7 appearances, going 2-1-0 with a 1.54 GAA and .956 SV%.

The Stars also have an 8-9 record in Game 7, although they did win last season against the then-defending champion Vegas Golden Knights in a Game 7 first-round playoff game at home. C Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring in that one, and C Radek Faksa had the winner. Faksa, was traded in the offseason, will play in a Game 7 Sunday as a member of the St. Louis Blues when they visit the West’s top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.

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Avalanche at Stars odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:52 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Avalanche -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Stars +140 (bet $100 to win $140)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche -1.5 (+155) | Stars +1.5 (-185)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Avalanche at Stars projected goalies

Mackenzie Blackwood (28-21-6, 2.55 GAA, .912 SV%, 4 SO — regular season) vs. Jake Oettinger (36-18-4, 2.59 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO — regular season)

Blackwood has been up-and-down in this series, allowing 9 total goals in the past 2 starts. For the series, he is 3-3-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .899 SV% with a shutout in 6 starts. His last visit to Dallas was Game 5 when he allowed 5 goals on 18 shots before getting pulled after 2 periods in a 6-2 loss.

Oettinger was tagged for 5 goals on 46 shots in Game 6 as he was peppered by the Avs in a 7-4 loss. The 41 saves were easily his most of the series as his previous high was 34 against 37 shots in Game 2, a 4-3 Stars win in OT.

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Avalanche at Stars picks and predictionsPrediction

Stars 3, Avalanche 2

The STARS (+140) are a solid play in this Game 7 battle in the Metroplex.

The Stars are a huge value on home ice at plus-money. While the Avalanche (-165) are the slightly more talented team, Dallas has plenty of firepower, too. Plus, Dallas is 3-0 all time in a Game 7 against Colorado, AND its coach has the Midas touch in winner-take-all games as DeBoer is 8-0 in such contests.

This should be a hotly contested, tight game, so BACK DALLAS (+140) on home ice as it is just too good of a value to pass up.

The Stars +1.5 (-185) will set you back nearly 2 times the potential return. That’s just a little too expensive for a standalone wager if you need some insurance.

If you were to play this as part of a multi-leg parlay, or use a boost/promo to work the price down, it is perfectly OK to bet Dallas then. If not, PASS.

The UNDER 5.5 (-110) is the LEAN, but go with a half-unit play at most.

While we’ve seen the Over cash in the past 2 games, with a wide-open style of play in both, we should have play much tighter and closer to the vest in Game 7.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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