Could it be déjà vu for a Stars team that blew multiple chances to eliminate the St. Louis Blues last year before losing in double overtime of Game 7 in the second round?

Backstopped by third string goalie Michael Hutchinson, the Avalanche pulled out a 4-1 win on Wednesday to force a deciding Game 7 for Friday. The Avalanche are the slim favourites on the NHL odds at -134 with the Stars at +111.  The total for Game 7 is 6 goals with the under favoured at -115.

Stars vs. Avalanche Betting Analysis

Wednesday night’s Game 6 was the first game this series to not hit the over.  It could still be a good decision to expect some goals in this game, as neither team’s starting goalie will be in net.  The Stars are still relying on backup Anton Khudobin who has played great, but is a backup for a reason, while the Avs are down to their third stringer in Hutchinson after injuries to Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz, earlier in the series.  The over is 8-1 in the Avalanche’s last nine game overall and 6-1 in the Stars’ last seven.

Some statistics of note: The Avalanche have never won a series when trailing 3-1.  Teams that win Games 5 and 6 when trailing 3-1 have a slight edge in Game 7 with a 29-28 record (50.8 per cent).  The Stars have lost their past three Game 7’s, including last year in double overtime of the second round to the eventual champion St. Louis Blues.  The last Game 7 win the Stars had was the 2000 Western Conference finals against the Avalanche.  The Avalanche have lost their last four Game 7’s with their last win coming in the 2002 Western Conference semifinals against the San Jose Sharks.

Dallas Stars

The Stars are in trouble if the top line doesn’t get back on track.  After Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov had a combined 17 points in the first four games of this series, they only managed one point between the three of them over Game 5 and Game 6.  On the flip side of that, Miro Heiskanen, who scored the Stars’ only goal in Game 6, now has 19 points (5G, 14A) and leads all defensemen in playoff scoring.

Discipline is going to be key for the Stars in Game 7.  Dallas gave up five power plays in Game 6 after giving up six in Game 5.  With an offensive lineup as dangerous as the Avalanche, the difference between the conference finals and going home could be staying out of the box for the Stars.

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon’s point streak is now at 14 games and he leads the NHL with 25 points (9G, 16A).  That streak is tied with Mark Messier and Bobby Orr for second longest ever in the playoffs with Bryan Trottier’s 18 game streak in 1981 standing as the record.  Flying somewhat under the radar is Mikko Rantanen who is on a nine game point streak of his own with 20 points (7G, 13A).

Not enough people have been talking about Hutchinson over the past three games of this series.  Since entering Game 4 in relief of Francouz, Hutchinson has stopped 61 of 65 shots, including 27 of 28 shots in Game 6.  With the Avs offense firing on all cylinders, a solid outing by Hutchinson could be key in helping the Avalanche reach the Western Conference final for the first time since 2002.

Who Will Win Stars vs. Avalanche?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Stars Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Tyler Seguin 50
+ / -	Miro Heiskanen 14
Shots	Tyler Seguin 245
Penalty Mins	Corey Perry 70
Wins	Ben Bishop 21
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.22

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 93
+ / -	Ryan Graves 40
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 318
Penalty Mins	Nazem Kadri 97
Wins	Pavel Francouz 21
GAA	Michael Hutchinson 1

DAL

Points	Miro Heiskanen 26
+ / -	Jamie Oleksiak 11
Shots	Jamie Benn 69
Penalty Mins	Mattias Janmark 38
Wins	Anton Khudobin 14
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.69

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 25
+ / -	Nathan MacKinnon 13
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 65
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 18
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 5
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 1.87

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Tyler Seguin 50
+ / -	Miro Heiskanen 14
Shots	Tyler Seguin 245
Penalty Mins	Corey Perry 70
Wins	Ben Bishop 21
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.22

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 93
+ / -	Ryan Graves 40
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 318
Penalty Mins	Nazem Kadri 97
Wins	Pavel Francouz 21
GAA	Michael Hutchinson 1

DAL

Points	Miro Heiskanen 26
+ / -	Jamie Oleksiak 11
Shots	Jamie Benn 69
Penalty Mins	Mattias Janmark 38
Wins	Anton Khudobin 14
GAA	Anton Khudobin 2.69

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 25
+ / -	Nathan MacKinnon 13
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 65
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 18
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 5
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 1.87

Injuries

Dallas

Andrej Sekera (D)

Prob Mon Knee - 27 / 09 / 20

Roope Hintz (LW)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 26 / 09 / 20

Andrej Sekera (D)

day-to-day Knee - 26 / 09 / 20

Alexander Radulov (RW)

Prob Fri Undisclosed - 24 / 09 / 20

Blake Comeau (LW)

Ques Wed Upper Body - 21 / 09 / 20

Roope Hintz (LW)

Prob Mon Upper Body - 12 / 09 / 20

Corey Perry (RW)

day-to-day Undisclosed - 12 / 09 / 20

Radek Faksa (C)

Ques Wed Wrist - 11 / 09 / 20

Anton Khudobin (G)

Prob Sat Groin - 11 / 09 / 20

Roope Hintz (LW)

Ques Thurs Forearm - 08 / 09 / 20

Colorado

Conor Timmins (D)

Out Fri Upper Body - 03 / 09 / 20

Gabriel Landeskog (LW)

Out Fri Knee - 02 / 09 / 20

Pavel Francouz (G)

Out Fri Undisclosed - 31 / 08 / 20

Nikita Zadorov (D)

Prob Sun Undisclosed - 27 / 08 / 20

Joonas Donskoi (RW)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 26 / 08 / 20

Matt Calvert (LW)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 23 / 08 / 20

Philipp Grubauer (G)

out for season Groin - 22 / 08 / 20

Erik Johnson (D)

out for season Knee - 22 / 08 / 20

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Prob Wed Foot - 18 / 08 / 20

Joonas Donskoi (RW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 08 / 20

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Andrej Sekera (D)	Prob Mon	Knee - 27 / 09 / 20	1-0	0-0-1	+ -
Sekera is hampered by a knee injury, and he is likely to suit up against the Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.
Roope Hintz (LW)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 26 / 09 / 20	2-0	1-0-1	+ -
Hintz is bothered by an unspecified injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final against the Lightning.
Andrej Sekera (D)	day-to-day	Knee - 26 / 09 / 20	2-0	1-0-1	+ -
Sekera departed Saturday's game due to a knee injury, and it is up in the air if he will return.
Alexander Radulov (RW)	Prob Fri	Undisclosed - 24 / 09 / 20	2-1	2-0-1	+ -
Radulov is dealing with an injury to an unreported area, but he is expected to lace up for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final against the Lightning in question.
Blake Comeau (LW)	Ques Wed	Upper Body - 21 / 09 / 20	4-1	2-0-3	+ -
Comeau is battling an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if it will interfere with his availability for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final versus the Lightning.
Roope Hintz (LW)	Prob Mon	Upper Body - 12 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Hintz has an upper-body injury, but it is unlikely to affect his status for Game 5 of the Western Conference final.
Corey Perry (RW)	day-to-day	Undisclosed - 12 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Perry exited Saturday's game with an apparent injury and his return is in question.
Radek Faksa (C)	Ques Wed	Wrist - 11 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Faksa is nursing a left wrist injury, and it is unknown if he will play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final against the Lightning.
Anton Khudobin (G)	Prob Sat	Groin - 11 / 09 / 20	7-1	2-2-4	+ -
Khudobin is dealing with a groin injury, but will likely be available to face the Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Western Conference final.
Roope Hintz (LW)	Ques Thurs	Forearm - 08 / 09 / 20	8-2	2-4-4	+ -
Hintz is tending to a right forearm injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Game 3 of the Western Conference final against the Golden Knights.

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Conor Timmins (D)	Out Fri	Upper Body - 03 / 09 / 20	1-0	0-1	+ -
Timmins is managing an upper-body injury, and he will not lace up for Game 7 of the Western Conference first round versus the Stars.
Gabriel Landeskog (LW)	Out Fri	Knee - 02 / 09 / 20	2-0	1-1	+ -
Landeskog is bothered by a right knee laceration, and he will not take on the Stars in Game 7 of the Western Conference second round.
Pavel Francouz (G)	Out Fri	Undisclosed - 31 / 08 / 20	2-1	2-1	+ -
Francouz is battling an injury to an unannounced location, and he will not be available for Game 7 of the Western Conference first round against the Stars.
Nikita Zadorov (D)	Prob Sun	Undisclosed - 27 / 08 / 20	3-2	4-1	+ -
Zadorov is dealing with an ailment to an unlisted area, but he is expected to be available for Game 4 of the Western Conference second round versus the Stars.
Joonas Donskoi (RW)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 26 / 08 / 20	3-2	4-1	+ -
Donskoi is nursing an undefined ailment, and he is not expected to return to action for the foreseeable future.
Matt Calvert (LW)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 23 / 08 / 20	3-3	5-1	+ -
Calvert has an unspecified injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Philipp Grubauer (G)	out for season	Groin - 22 / 08 / 20	4-3	6-1	+ -
Grubauer sustained a groin injury that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.
Erik Johnson (D)	out for season	Knee - 22 / 08 / 20	4-3	6-1	+ -
Johnson is out of commission with a right knee injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Prob Wed	Foot - 18 / 08 / 20	5-3	7-1	+ -
Burakovsky is tending to a foot injury but is projected to lace up for Game 5 of the Western Conference versus the Coyotes.
Joonas Donskoi (RW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 14 / 08 / 20	6-5	8-3	+ -
Donski is dealing with an unspecified injury, and it is unclear if he will lace up for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Coyotes.