NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Dallas Stars. Colorado Avalanche. Game 7. Collision course. Need I say more?
This first-round series has been a real battle between championship-caliber teams as Colorado’s star power works to fend off Dallas’ depth. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. EST tonight, so here’s a Stars vs. Avalanche prediction and best bet for Game 7 in Dallas.
Stars vs. Avalanche prediction, pick
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Avalanche are -166 Moneyline favorites to win Game 7 despite heading into Dallas on the road. They’re +160 to cover the -1.5 puck line. As for the Stars, the home team comes in as +140 Moneyline underdogs while they’re -192 to cover the +1.5 puck line.
What a series it has been. Nearly every game has been a tightly-contested affair until the final minutes when empty netters make an appearance to alter the final score. Two contests actually went to overtime earlier in the series, and the Avalanche battled back at home in Game 6 to extend their postseason and clasp one last chance to keep their season going.
It’s a bit shocking the Stars even made it to seven games, honestly. Top defenseman Miro Heiskanen hasn’t played since January 28 and won’t make his return for Game 7 despite being listed day-to-day recently, while leading goalscorer Jason Robertson remains out with an injury suffered in the final game of the regular season. Despite missing two of their top players, Dallas somehow stayed afloat and even looked dominant across a couple of showings in the previous six matchups. Their failure to close the series out in Game 6 may bite them, though, especially against Nathan MacKinnon.
My prediction? This will be a close one decided by just one goal until an empty-netter stamps out any hope of a comeback in the closing seconds. Am I playing it safe by refusing to pick a winner? Quite possibly, but this series truly has been too close to call.
I do have a top betting pick, though. Nathan MacKinnon will score in this game. The superstar sits one goal away from tying the all-time franchise record for goals in a single playoff series. It feels fitting he’ll net his seventh in seven games tonight. Sure, the +100 odds aren’t spectacular, but they’ll get the job done. Back him for this one.
