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Nathan MacKinnon celebrates with his teammates after scoring against the Winnipeg Jets as we offer our best prop picks for Game 1 of the second-round matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.
Nathan MacKinnon celebrates with his teammates after scoring against the Winnipeg Jets in the third period during Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

Tuesday brings a wild west showdown between two gunslingers as the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche meet in the second round of the NHL playoffs, with Game 1 in the Lonestar State as we offer our expert Avalanche-Stars props based on the best NHL odds

Get ready for a thrilling ride as the Dallas Stars (52-21-9) and Colorado Avalanche (50-25-7) duel for a spot in the Western Conference Final. Our best sports betting sites favor the Stars to win Game 1, with the puck set to drop tonight in Dallas at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

The Stars outlasted the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, prevailing in seven games. With 48 hours between Game 7 and Game 1, the Stars look to build on the mountain of momentum they gained from ousting last season's Stanley Cup champions. According to our Stanley Cup odds, the well-rested Avs have marginally longer odds than the Stars to win the Holy Grail.

To accompany our Hurricanes vs. Rangers predictions, here are our best Avalanche vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks (odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Avalanche vs. Stars Game 1 expert picks

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Avalanche vs. Stars predictions for Tuesday

Nathan MacKinnon Over 4.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A well-rested Nathan MacKinnon is an ominous prospect for any team, even as stout defensively as the Stars. MacKinnon's shot total has declined thus far in the postseason, as expected, considering the increased level of opposition. MacKinnon had at least five shots in two of the five first-round contests against the Winnipeg Jets, averaging 4.8 throughout the series. 

While using stats from the regular season doesn't carry as much weight for playoff games, it's impossible to overlook MacKinnon's productivity against the Stars. He had at least five shots in three of four games, averaging 6.25. Plus, MacKinnon is as fresh as the air after a tropical downpour. At +102, FanDuel offers plus-money value, something you'll rarely find with a MacKinnon prop. A $10 winning wager pays a profit of $10.20, implying a 49.50% probability. 

Best odds: +102 via FanDuel

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Jake Oettinger Over 26.5 saves ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jake Oettinger hasn't allowed more than two goals since Game 2 against the Golden Knights. He will likely see an increased workload against an Avs team that averaged the most shots per game in the first round (37). The Avalanche haven't played for a week and should be fresh. That doesn't mean the visitors will win Game 1, but it should provide a platform for an increased shot total. 

With the Stars' ace netminder on top of his game and the Avs' ability to set up shop in the offensive zone and fire from anywhere, Oettinger should get at least 27 saves. FanDuel offers Over 26.5 saves at -125, the best value of our best sports betting apps. The other sportsbooks offer Over 27.5 saves, decreasing the likelihood of a payout. A $10 winning bet pays a profit of $8. The -125 odds have an implied probability of 55.56%. 

Best odds: -125 via FanDuel

Tyler Seguin Over 2.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tyler Seguin loves playing the Avalanche. In three games versus the Avs during the regular season, he scored six goals on 11 shots. While maintaining a shooting percentage of 55% is as unfeasible as hitting every wager you place, Seguin's consistently high production against Colorado is sustainable. He had three, five, and three shots in three regular-season contests against the Avs. 

Seguin had at least three shots in six of seven games against the Golden Knights in the opening round, another promising sign from the wily veteran. At +135, DraftKings offers the best value. The +135 odds imply a probability of 42.55%, and a winning $10 bet pays a profit of $13.50. If you're feeling bold, you can lock in a Seguin anytime goal at +275. 

Best odds: +135 at DraftKings

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Avalanche vs. Stars Game 1 info & odds

  • When: Tuesday, May 7
  • Puck drop: 9:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
  • How to watch: Sportsnet, ESPN
  • Favorite: Stars (-120 via BetMGM)

Avalanche-Stars predictions made Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET.

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

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