Avalanche vs Stars Picks and Prediction – 5/16/2024

The Colorado Avalanche visit American Airlines Center in Dallas on Wednesday to play Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals best of seven series versus the Dallas Stars. The opening face is at 8:00 PM ET and televised on ESPN. Colorado trails in the series 3-1 after losing to Dallas on Monday night 5-1 in Game 4. Make sure you stay up to date with all the NHL action, with our expert NHL picks.

Colorado is now in a complete must win situation, trailing 3-1 in the series and on the brink of elimination after losing Game 4 at home on Monday to Dallas 5-1. Casey Mittelstadt scored Colorado's only goal on Monday in what could be the Avalanche’s last game on their home ice this season. 

The Avalanche, during the regular season, was 50-25-7 with 107 points, finishing third in the Central Division. Colorado is second in the postseason in goals for at 4.11 per game. The Avalanche are averaging 32.8 shots per game. Colorado is scoring 30.8% of the time on the power play. Valeri Nichushkin has scored nine goals to lead Colorado, but has been suspended and Artturi Lehkonen is second with five. Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen have nine assists apiece to lead the Avalanche, and the three are also the leaders in points for Colorado with 12 apiece. 

Colorado is 12th in goals against during the postseason at 3.56. Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev was 38-18-5 with a goals against average of 3.02 and save percentage of .897 during the regular season. In nine playoff games, Georgiev is 5-4 with a goals against average of 2.97 and save percentage of .891. 

Dallas is within one game of clinching this series and moving on to the Western Conference Finals after defeating Colorado on Monday to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Wyatt Johnston had a pair of goals on Monday, one day prior to his 21st birthday to help lead the Stars to the win. Miro Heiskanen scored one goal and added two assists in the win, while Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger made 24 saves.  

Dallas finished the regular season 52-21-9 with 113 points, winning the Central division. Dallas is seventh in goals for in the playoffs at 3.00 per game, through 11 games. The Stars are averaging 28.6 shots per game and the power play is scoring 30.8% of the time. Wyatt Johnston is the leader in goals scored with seven and Miro Heiskanen is second with four. Heiskanen is the leader in assists with eight and in points with 12, while Johnston is second in points with 11. 

Dallas is second in goals against average at 2.27 per game, during the postseason. During the regular season, Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger was 35-14-4 with a goals against average of 2.72 and save percentage of .905. In 11 playoff games, Oettinger is 7-4 with a goals against average of 2.02 and save percentage of .923.