Stars vs. Avalanche Game 3 Prediction, Stanley Cup Playoff Odds
After snatching home-ice advantage, the Avalanche have a shot at taking back the series lead.
The Avalanche are the -130 favourites on home ice on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6. Game 3 of the Central Division Final is set for 10:00 PM ET. Thursday.
Stars vs. Avalanche NHL Playoff Betting Odds
With potent offences on both sides of this matchup, it is no surprise that the OVER is 2-0 in the series. In the six times these teams have met this season, the OVER has hit five times, with one of these teams having scored at least five goals in all but one. The Avs have been even more consistent with the OVERs this postseason, playing it 6-1 through the first two rounds. Thursday night was the first time they were held to less than four in a playoff game this year.
Stealing home ice advantage has forced bookies to swing the odds slightly in Colorado’s favour to win the series at -114 compared to Dallas’ -105. Despite the longer odds to get out of the round, the Stars are still the favourite to win the Western Conference at a +310 payout. The Stars and Avalanche have the third and fifth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup at +500 (DAL) and +550 (COL).
Our NHL Futures board also features a three-way tie for the correct series result with 4-3 Stars, 4-2 Colorado and 4-3 Colorado all paying out at +350.
Dallas Stars
Dallas’ early lead powered them to their win in Game 2 as they managed to hold onto it, which they could not do in Game 1. Their powerplay got the offence rolling for Dallas with Miro Heiskanen’s second goal of the playoffs. Early in the second, Roope Hintz tallied his second of the playoffs to take the 2-0 lead. The Stars’ special teams would take over again with Heiskanen notching his second of the night on the man-advantage. Dallas’ powerplay is clicking at 30 percent, the highest amongst teams with more than seven games played and has struck for three goals in the second round.
If the powerplay was not enough, their penalty kill added to their lead in the final two minutes of the second, extending it to 4-0.
The Stars have scored first in both games this round but could have been better at closing out games. After blowing a 3-0 lead in the opener, they allowed three in a row in the third period in Game 2 but were able to hold them off just enough to get the win.
The team has been waiting for Roope Hintz to come alive this postseason and he did exactly that in Game 2, tallying four points (1G 3A). He was held to just a single goal in the first eight games,
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado did what they could to battle back in the third period down 4-0, but ran out of time in the 5-3 defeat. Joel Kiviranta and Brandon Duhaime each scored their firsts of the postseason in the third period sparking the Avs’ comeback, before Valeri Nichushkin’s league-leading ninth of the postseason brought the team within one goal. With the game so close they pulled the goalie to go for the final push but instead allowed one for the 5-3 final. Colorado has finished strong in both games so far, outscoring the Stars 4-1 in the third period, which includes Dallas’ empty net goal.
Of all the players picked up at the deadline who are playing in the playoffs, Colorado’s Casey Mittelstadt has scored the second most points of the group. Playing in his first postseason, he has scored seven points (1G 6A) in seven games behind only Carolina’s Jake Guentzel.
Despite winning the first series goalie Alexandar Georgiev looked shaky at times and has yet to turn it around. He has a .891 save percentage with a 3.1 goals-against average allowing more than three goals in four of seven games.
DAL
COL