The Dallas Stars look to close out their series with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night. It is time to continue our NHL odds series with an Avalanche-Stars Game 5 prediction and pick.
The Stars found themselves down in the series, losing game one at home 4-3. It was a game they were up 3-0 in, with all three goals in the first period. They would give up two power-play goals in the second, allow the Aves to tie it in the third, and then lose in overtime. They would rebound though. In game two the Stars took a 4-0 lead in the first two periods and would go on to win 5-3.
Then, thye hit the road. It was a tight game three, but two empty net goals made it a 4-1 victory for the Stars in game three. Then, in game four, they took a 3-0 lead before allowing the Avalanche to score and would win 5-1. The Stars have been tied or in the lead for every minute of this series, with the Avalanche having their only lead off their overtime game-winner in game one.
Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Avalanche-Stars Game 5 Odds
Colorado Avalanche: +1.5 (-205)
Moneyline: +122
Dallas Stars: -1.5 (+168)
Moneyline: -146
Over: 6.5 (+106)
Under: 6.5 (-130)
How to Watch Avalanche vs. Stars Game 5
Time: 8:00 PM ET/ 5:00 PM PT
TV: ESPN
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Avalanche Will Cover The Spread/Win
Just like in the regular season Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen continue to lead the way for the Avalanche. MacKinnon has a goal and two assists in the series, having three goals and nine assists in the playoffs overall. He also has a goal and five assists on the power play. MacKinnon had 51 goals and 89 assists in the regular season, good for 140 points. He also had ten goals and 38 assists on the power play. Meanwhile, Rantanen also has a goal and two assists in this series, and three goals and nine assists in the playoffs. In the regular season, he had 42 goals and 62 assists, good for 104 points. He also has two three assists on the power play, while he has 14 goals and 26 assists on the power play in the regular season.
Cale Makar is also playing well so far. He has three goals and nine assists in the playoffs as well. In the regular season, he had 90 points from the blue line, via 21 goals and 69 assists. The major goal sorcerers have been a surprise though. Valeri Nichuishkin has nine goals so far in the playoffs, with four of them on the power play. In the regular season, he had 28 goals and 25 assists, with 16 power-play goals. He will be missing more time though, as Nichuishkin will be out for the remainder of the playoffs due to suspension. He played in just 54 goals though. Artturi Lehkoenen also has five goals and eight assists in the playoffs. In the regular season. He had just 16 goals and 18 assists but did play in just 45 games.
Alexander Georgiev is expected to be in goal once again for Colorado. He led the NHL in wins this year, but was outside the top 30 in both goals against average and save percentage. In the regular season, he had a 3.02 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. In the playoffs, he has been right around average, with a 3.10 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. Still, he has been below .880 in save percentage, allowing four goals in two of the last three games.
Why The Stars Will Cover The Spread/Win
The Stars have been led in the playoffs by Wyatt Johnston. He has seven goals and four assists so far in the playoffs, after having 32 goals and 33 assists in the regular season. He also has two goals and an assist on the power play. Johnston had just three goals and seven assists on the power play in the regular season. Jason Robertson led the team in the regular season. He had 29 goals and 51 assists in the regular season. This gave him 80 total points. In the playoffs, he has three goals and seven assists, with two of the goals and three assists coming on the power play.
One area the Stars need help is production from Joe Pavelski. He led the team with 11 power-play goals while having 27 goals and 40 assists overall. He has just one assist so far in 11 games in the playoffs. Roope Hintz has been better in this series. Hintz was third on the team in power in the regular season, with 30 goals and 25 assists. In the first round, he had just one goal, but he has added and goal and four assists in this series.
Jake Oettinger will be in goal for this one for the Stars. He has been solid in the playoffs. Oettinger has 2.02 goals against average and a .923 save percentage in the playoffs so far. He has been over .960 in save percentage in each of his last two games. Overall, Oettinger has stopped 52 of the last 54 shots he has faced, helping give the Stars the series lead.
Final Avalanche-Stars Prediction & Pick
While it is a 3-1 series, the Stars have dominated it overall. They blew a huge lead in game one of the series, and if they had not done that, the series would already be over. There are two major issues for the Avalanche. First, they are struggling to score and beat Jake Oettinger. Second, Alexander Georgiev has let in too many goals. He was an issue all year long, but the offense made up for it. That is not happening now. Take the Stars to end the series.
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Final Avalanche-Stars Prediction & Pick: Stars ML (-146)
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