The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs start today as the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche round out Saturday’s two-game slate. There’s plenty of stakes involved in this matchup, so game one of the series should play out in interesting fashion on the national stage tonight.
DraftKings Sportsbook has plenty of betting options for the on-ice action. Here’s odds and picks for Stars vs. Avalanche ahead of the 8:30 p.m. EST puck drop.
Stars vs. Avalanche odds
As things currently stand, the Avalanche hold -155 odds to win on the Moneyline tonight on the road. Conversely, the Stars are +130 underdogs on the Moneyline despite opening the series in their own barn.
The game total sits at 6.5 goals for this contest between high-scoring offenses. The Avalanche are listed at +180 to cover the -1.5 puck line, while the Stars hold -218 odds of covering their +1.5 line.
The Dallas Stars were considered title favorites just a few weeks ago, but after a terrible losing streak to end the season and an injury to leading goalscorer Jason Robertson in the final game of the regular season, they’re no longer a betting favorite to even make it out of the first round (or win tonight).
Stars vs. Avalanche picks
So, what are the best bets and top picks for game one? The first one is a puck line bet. The Stars enter this game on a seven-game losing streak over which they’re allowing over 4.5 goals per game. The defense just can’t stop anyone, plain and simple. They’re also allowing a league-worst 36.1 shots over that same span, and with an Avalanche team boasting plenty of speed, it’s safe to say the pressure will be on Jake Oettinger tonight. If he can flip the playoff switch, the Stars have a shot. However, entering the playoffs cold is a problem — Avalanche -1.5 at +180 odds is a top pick for this game.
The other best bet to consider is an interesting angle with similar odds. The Stars have allowed the most third-period goals of any NHL franchise over their recent losing streak and just can’t seem to close out games. Bettors can take the Avalanche to record over 1.5 total third-period goals at +180 odds, which is an intriguing way to bet tonight’s game.
