Scoreboard	1	2	3	Odds
Colorado Avalanche 42-20-7-1	0	2	2	+6
Dallas Stars 37-24-5-3	3	0	2	-138

Avalanche vs. Stars Game 4 Prediction, Stanley Cup Playoff Odds

The high-powered Avalanche offense powered back with three late period goals in the third period to win the game 6-4, but they still trail the Stars 2-1 in the best-of-7 series. Game 4 goes Friday at 10 p.m. ET with the Stars able to take a stranglehold on the series against an Avalanche team looking to tie things up.

Avalanche vs. Stars NHL Playoff Odds

The Avalanche finally found a way to win on Wednesday and for Game 4 they are -140 favourites on the NHL odds, with the Stars listed at +115. The total is 5.5 goals with the over favoured at -120.

With the Stars and Avalanche such high scoring teams, it maybe a little surprising to some experts that the under is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings. That stat is mainly due to the low scoring four games between these teams in the regular season. The over is actually 4-0 in the Stars last four games overall and 6-0 in the Avalanche’s last six.

Of note, Nathan MacKinnon’s 11 game point streak to start the playoffs is a franchise record (surpassing Joe Sakic’s 1996 10 game streak) and his 20 points (7G, 13A) currently leads all players. Miro Heiskanen picked up an assist on Wednesday, to bring his playoff total to 15 points (3G, 12A). Heiskanen has now tied the Dallas/Minnesota franchise record for defensemen playoff points (Craig Hartsburg also had 15 points in 1981).

Colorado Avalanche

It looked like the Stars were going to extend their win streak to six games and pull off another comeback win in Game 3, after Denis Gurianov, Blake Comeau and Tyler Seguin scored three straight goals in under six minutes during the third period. The Stars couldn’t hold the Avalanche at bay after that and eventually lost the game 6-4, with Anton Khudobin making 26 saves on 31 shots.

A collapse midway through the third period cost the Stars Game 3 but there are plenty of positives for them to take into Game 4. The Stars live or die by their top line and it continues to produce, with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin both scoring on Wednesday (Seguin had two goals). If Khudobin can play solid and the Stars top line keeps scoring, they have a good chance to beat the Avs in Game 4 and take a 3-1 series lead.

Dallas Stars

This was a desperately needed win for the Avalanche. Instead of going into an 0-3 hole, the Avs are one win from tying the series. The most glaring issue for the Avalanche is giant defensive lapses. Taking a two-goal lead into the third period, the Avs allowed the Stars to score three straight goals in under six minutes. On the positive side of this is the Avalanche’s ability to overcome adversity. After blowing the lead in the third they were able to retake control of the game and score three straight themselves.

The key for the Avalanche in Game 4 needs to be defensive responsibility. The scoring is there for the Avalanche, they just need to keep the puck out of the net. Pavel Francouz made 33 saves on 37 shots in Game 3 and is reliable between the pipes. If the Avalanche can lock down in front of Francouz, there is a good chance Friday could see this series tied at two games apiece.