Stars vs Avalanche Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Dallas Does Damage in Denver

Sunday’s NHL nightcap features a Central Division tilt with the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Dallas Stars. NHL odds have Colorado as a slight –125 favorite while the total sits at 6.

These two teams are battling for first place in the Central, with Dallas owning a 3-point lead over the Avs entering Sunday. With that said, the Avalanche can slim that lead down to just one point with a win in regulation.

Can Colorado bridge the gap or will the Stars essentially clinch the division with a win? Find out in my free NHL picks for Stars vs. Avalanche on Sunday, April 7.

Stars vs Avalanche odds

Stars vs Avalanche predictions

The Dallas Stars are rounding into Stanley Cup form with wins in 13 of its last 16 games, a trend that exists due to multiple factors. First, goaltender Jake Oettinger has been lights out between the pipes over the past couple of weeks and is slated to guard the cage once again on Sunday.

Oettinger has now allowed two or fewer goals in six consecutive starts. He's 6-0 over that stretch with a commanding .955 SV% and 1.17 GAA.

This success is likely to continue against the Colorado Avalanche, a team he's fared well against in his career with a .918 SV% and 2.92 GAA across seven meetings. It certainly helps his cause that he plays behind one of the best two-way teams in hockey.

Preventing high-danger scoring chances at an elite level, the Stars rank third in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). That serves as a stark contrast to the Avs, who rank 21st in the same category.

Subsequently, Dallas ranks higher than Colorado in both goals allowed per game and shots on goal allowed per game. That difference could be the deciding factor in what is likely to be a close game, especially if Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen is ruled out with his upper-body injury.

Rantanen missed the second half of Colorado’s game against Edmonton on Friday and it's no coincidence that the wheels started to come off the track once he came off the ice.

My best bet: Stars moneyline (+105 at bet365)

Stars vs Avalanche same-game parlay

Stars moneyline

Wyatt Johnston anytime goalscorer

+393 at FanDuel

If we're backing Dallas to win, we obviously need some pucks to find the back of the net and there may not be a better candidate than Stars forward Wyatt Johnston.

Johnston has followed up his tremendous rookie campaign with an even better sophomore season, leading the team with 30 goals. More impressively, 27 of those goals have come at even strength, which leads the team by a wide margin.

I mention this because while Colorado has struggled on the defensive end of the ice, it's done a good job staying disciplined and killing off penalties when it occasionally takes one.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Stars vs Avalanche moneyline and Over/Under analysis

• Colorado opened as a –130 favorite and has since been bet down to -125.
  
  
• I think the market will only push this line closer to a pick‘em because while the Avs are obviously very strong offensively, Dallas can keep up in the goal-scoring department while it possesses the clear advantage defensively and in net.
  
  
• The total opened at 6 and has remained there.
  
  
• As expected, there has been a ton of push-and-pull in this market, which makes sense when you have two offensive powerhouses but a strong Stars blue line and Oettinger that can quell Colorado’s firepower.

Stars vs Avalanche betting trend to know

Dallas has won 13 of its past 16 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Stars vs. Avalanche.

Stars vs Avalanche game info

Stars vs Avalanche latest injuries

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