Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs roll on.
NHL Predictions
Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars
Series Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1-3 Stars
TV: ESPN, Sportsnet, TVAS
Our only game of NHL predictions has the Avalanche trying to stay alive against the Stars. Dallas has turned the series around after losing the first game of the second-round series. The Stars have buckled down on defence and allowed only one goal in each of the last two games at Ball Arena in Denver.
Colorado is dealing with issues besides scoring goals. The Avalanche are without post-season leading goal-scorer Valeri Nichushkin. He went into Phase 3 on the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and has been suspended six months without pay. Nichushkin had nine goals in eight games, so his prescence in the lineup will be missed.
Let’s take a look at the storylines and statistics going into Game 5.
The Avalanche Story
Colorado’s offence has struggled in the last two games. Cale Makar has been held without a point for the last three games. This is not a good sign for a team looking to stave off elimination. Much of Colorado’s offence is triggered by the former University of Massachusetts product. Players like Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen have been frustrated by the Stars’ defensive game plan. Alexandar Georgiev is the expected starter for Colorado, but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. It’s all hands at the pumps for the Avalanche, who are trying to force the series back to the Rocky Mountains.
The Stars Story
Jake Oettinger has been solid for the Stars in recent games and will get the call in between the pipes. Dallas made adjustments after giving seven goals in the first two games of the series. The Stars have also potted 14 goals in the last three games to put the pressure on the Avalanche. Wyatt Johnston leads the team in goals while Miro Heiskanen tops the team in points with 12. Dallas is also getting goals from different sources like Tyler Seguin, Evgenii Dadonov and others. Teams that make deep post-season runs need to find scoring from all four lines. This is a good sign for the Stars if they have designs on making a run at the franchise’s second Stanley Cup.
Prediction
Colorado’s offensive problems were pretty loud without Nichushkin, but his being out doesn’t help. The Avalanche need to get going at both ends of the ice. Players like MacKinnon, Makar and Rantanen will need to get help from other lines if Colorado wants to push the series to six games.
The Stars may have found the right game plan to frustrate the Avalanche. However, Dallas can’t be complacent because Colorado is more than capable of putting together three solid games. The Stars would love nothing more than to finish off the series and allow some rest while the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers have a long serious.
Dallas should finish off the series and await the winner.
Prediction: Stars win 4-2.
Prop Bets of the Night
We have a couple of prop bets for tonight’s game. We’ll take MacKinnon getting the over on +0.5 points while we’ll go with Johnston getting the over on +0.5 goals for the Stars.
Main photo by: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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