March 18, 2026, 3:51 p.m. ET
The Dallas Stars (42-15-10) visit the Colorado Avalanche (44-13-9) Wednesday. Puck drop from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, is set for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze NHL odds around the Stars vs. Avalanche odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Tied 1-1 after 5-4 shootout victories by each team on the other team’s home ice. The latest was a 5-4 Avs shootout win March 6, which the Avs covered as -120 favorites. The Stars were +115 underdogs when they won in Denver on Oct. 11.
The Stars saw their 4-game winning streak snapped with a 6-3 home loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday, failing to cover as a -160 favorite with the Over 6 cashing. C Wyatt Johnston scored his career-high 37th goal. He has goals in 3 straight games. RW Mikko Rantanen has been out for 6 weeks with a lower-body injury and remains out Wednesday.
The Avs were overwhelmed by the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-2 on Monday in a laugher at home. They were -235 favorites facing a Pens team without Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh got up 6-2 in the second and the Avs just floundered with 10 shots combined in the final 2 frames. C Nathan MacKinnon drilled his 45th goal of the season.
Watch the NHL on Fubo!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 3:40 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Stars +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Avalanche -145 (bet $145 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Stars +1.5 (-200) | Avalanche -1.5 (+165)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)Stars at Avalanche projected goalies
Jake Oettinger (28-10-5, 2.62 GAA, .900 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Scott Wedgewood (25-5-5, 2.23 GAA, .915 SV%, 2 SO)
Otter has won 3 straight starts with the latest a 3-2 OT victory at home Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings. He stopped 22 of 24 fired his way. In 5 March starts, he has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 4 of them. The outlier there is the 5-4 shootout loss to Colorado on March 6, when he allowed 4 goals on 29 shots. He’s 1-0-1 with a 3.70 GAA and .882 SV% in 2 starts vs. the Avs this season.
Wedge played just 13 minutes before being pulled Monday, allowing 3 goals on 5 shots. Before that, he was electric, allowing 4 goals combined in his previous 4 appearances. He came on against Dallas in the second period March 6 and stopped all 10 shots fired his way in the win. He’s 1-0-1 with a 2.26 GAA and .875 SV% in 2 games against Dallas this season.
Stars at Avalanche picks and predictionsPrediction
Stars 5, Avalanche 4
The Stars sit 3 points behind Colorado in the Central Division, but the Avs have a game in hand. I like the STARS (+120) here. Colorado has been outscored 10-3 in its last 2 games and Dallas is a good road team at 20-7-6.
PASS and take the ML value.
Take the OVER 6.5 (-120). Both games ended 5-4 this season, and the Over has cashed in 5 straight meetings. We’ve had 7+ goals in 4 of 5 meetings.
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