The Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche meet in Game 4 of a Western Conference best-of-7, first-round series Saturday in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Puck drop from Ball Arena in Denver is set for 9:30 p.m. ET (TBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Stars vs. Avalanche odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Series: Dallas leads 2-1
The Stars, who were underdogs in all 3 games so far, were clobbered 5-1 in the series opener April 10 as +145 home ‘dogs but rebounded with back-to-back OT victories in Games 2 and 3 — 4-3 at home Monday and 2-1 in Denver Wednesday, respectively. C Tyler Seguin scored Wednesday’s game-winner 5:31 into the extra period as Dallas cashed as a +161 road underdog and regained home-ice advantage.
The Avalanche, who lost to the Stars in 6 games in a second-round series last spring, took 2 of 3 from the them in the regular season. But with Wednesday’s setback, the Avs have lost 4 straight home playoff games against Dallas.
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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 1:30 p.m. ET.
Moneyline: Stars +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Avalanche -185 (bet $185 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars +1.5 (-160) | Avalanche -1.5 (+135)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)Stars at Avalanche projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (36-18-4, 2.59 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO — regular season) vs. Mackenzie Blackwood (28-21-6, 2.55 GAA, .912 SV%, 4 SO — regular season)
Oettinger has been between the pipes for all 3 games. He stopped 27 of 28 pucks Wednesday and owns a .910 SV% (81 saves on 89 shots) for the series and a .915 mark for his playoff career (50 games).
Making his first postseason appearances, Blackwood has been Oettinger’s opposite all 3 games. He has clocked a .923 SV% in the series — 84 saves on 91 shots.
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Stars at Avalanche picks and predictionsPrediction
Avalanche 4, Stars 3
Dallas (+155) dropped its last 3 road games of the regular season. Prior to Wednesday, in regular-season and playoff games combined, the Stars allowed 42 goals over their previous 9 games, while going 1-8 with 2 OT losses and Monday’s OT win.
Colorado, which went 26-12-3 on home ice during the regular season, is 6-1-0 across its last 7 games played on 2 days’ rest.
BET AVALANCHE (-185).
There is a lean on the Over in this contest, but the Oettinger is worthy of enough respect to generate a PASS here unless the return for Colorado gets a bump.
The Over is 4-2 across the last 6 head-to-head meetings.
Expected-goal figures lean toward more scoring. (Those numbers also back up more Avs offense and a higher yield in goals for the Stars.)
TAKE OVER 6 (-120).
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