Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars 9/2/20 - NHL Picks & Predictions

The Colorado Avalanche look to even their NHL Western Conference semifinals best of seven series with the Dallas Stars in Game 6 and force a deciding Game 7. Colorado defeated Dallas 6-3 in Game 5 and now trails 3-2 in the series. Colorado scored five goals during the first period and coasted to the victory to avoid elimination. The Avalanche led 5-0 after one and 6-1 after two in the lopsided win.

Center Nathan MacKinnon is leading Colorado in goals scored with eight, in assists with 15 and in points with 23. Mikko Rantanen is second in points with 18, while Nazim Kadri is tied with MacKinnon in goals scored with eight. In goal, Pavel Francouz is 2-4 with a goals-against average of 3.23 and save percentage of .892.

Dallas must put its embarrassing 6-goal loss in Game 5 behind them when they take the ice on Wednesday.  Ben Bishop started in goal for the Stars and gave up four goals prior to being replaced with over six minutes remaining in the first period by Anton Khudobin even though Khudobin was considered unfit to play following the team's morning skate. Joe Pavelski, Miro Heiskanen and Jamie Benn scored in the loss for Dallas.

Right winger Denis Gurianov is leading Dallas in goals scored with eight. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen is the assists leader with 14 and points leader with 18. Center Joe Pavelski is tied with Gurianov in goals scored with eight. In goal, Anton Khudobin is 7-4 with a goals against average of 2.86 and a save percentage of .911.