Avalanche vs Stars Picks and Prediction – 5/8/2024

Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars Prediction

The Colorado Avalanche visit American Airlines Center on Tuesday to play Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals best of seven series versus the Dallas Stars. The opening face off will be at 8:30 PM and the game will be televised on ESPN. Colorado defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 in their best of seven quarterfinal series and have not played since April 30, while Dallas was extended to seven games by the Vegas Golden Knights before winning the series 4-3 on Sunday night. Make sure you stay up to date with all the NHL action, with our expert NHL picks.

Colorado Avalanche Preview

The Colorado Avalanche finished the regular season 50-25-7 with 107 points and were third in the Central Division. Colorado was 19-16-6 on the road during the regular season and will look to start quick with a victory in Dallas in Game 1.

Colorado is first in the postseason in goals for at 5.60 per game. The Avalanche have taken 185 shots in five games for an average of 37 shots per game which is the highest amongst the 16 playoff teams. Colorado is scoring on 37.5% of its power plays. Valeri Nichushkin is the leading goal scorer for Colorado with seven and Artturi Lehkonen has scored five, while Cale Makar is one of three players with seven assists to lead the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon is tied with two others for the lead in points with nine each. 

During the regular season, Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev was 38-18-5 with a goals against average of 3.02 and save percentage of .897. In five games during the postseason, Georgiev is 4-1 with a goals against average of 3.03 and save percentage of .900. Colorado is 11th in goals against during the postseason at 3.00.

Dallas Stars Preview

Dallas must be ready for an onslaught of pressure from Colorado in Game 1 and must recover quickly from its seven-game series with Vegas.

Dallas finished the regular season 52-21-9 with 113 points, winning the Central division. Dallas is 10th in goals for with an average of 2.29, through the first seven games of the playoffs, averaging 28.6 shots per game and the power play is scoring 28.6% of the time. Wyatt Johnston has scored four goals to lead Dallas in the postseason, while Jason Robertston has scored three. Miro Heiskanen is the leader in assists with four. Johnston is the leader in points with seven, while Hesikanen and Robertson each have five points. 

Dallas is fifth amongst 16 playoff teams in goals against average at 2.29 per game. During the regular season, Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger 35-14-4 with a goals against average of 2.72 and save percentage of .905. In seven playoff games, Oettinger is 4-3 with a goals against average of 1.95 and save percentage of .925.