Stars vs. Avalanche prediction: NHL odds, picks, bets for Tuesday
In the NHL, the West is won through a fast two-way game that generates high goal volume by cashing in on a good chunk of scoring chances.
You can identify those specific qualities in both the Avalanche’s and Stars’ play, which is why they sit atop the conference heading into their final meeting of the season Tuesday.
Colorado is still the same strong five-on-five team from a foundational standpoint as it was when it won the Stanley Cup two seasons ago, with some minor regression.
The Avs blew an early 2-0 lead against the Maple Leafs on Saturday because they relinquished the momentum after conceding a power-play goal. This was a game in which Colorado didn’t get the same reward for its chances, but it remains ranked in the top 10 in expected goals rate.
(9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Colorado’s 2022 Cup run was an extremely rare example of a championship team that wasn’t braced by world-class goaltending. Alexandar Georgiev was an upgrade when he arrived the following season, but the team doesn’t compensate for netminding struggles the same way it once did.
Georgiev has been adequate enough to record 30 wins, but he’s allowed three or more goals in five of his last seven starts.
It’s partly a reason why Avalanche games have hit the Over almost 60 percent of the season, which has been the same case for the Stars.
Colorado has won both previous meetings in two games that hit the Over.
Neither team’s starting goaltender posted a save percentage of .900 against aggressive offenses that both presently rank top four in shooting percentage.
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Colorado is bolstered by premiere goal-scoring with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
Dallas is No. 6 in expected goals rate and is playing the second leg of a back-to-back, so I’m looking for an old-fashioned Western shootout to commence in Colorado.
THE PLAY: Stars-Avalanche Over 6.5 (-110, BetMGM)
