Colorado Avalanche - Dallas Stars predictions and free betting tips [18/05/2024]

In the 6th match of the NHL Eastern Conference, Colorado Avalanche will face off against Dallas Stars in the morning of 18 May.

Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche have never won a series after trailing 1-3, so they have a chance to make franchise history if they can win the next two games against the Dallas Stars. The Avalanche's offence came alive in Game 5, securing a 5-3 victory in Dallas on Thursday. Now, Avalanche can even the score in the Western Conference semi-final series in Game 6, which will be held tomorrow in Denver. For Dallas, it will be an opportunity to finish the series on the road, where they have been nearly unbeatable this postseason.

The victory on Thursday gave Avalanche two significant things: they stayed alive in the series, and they finally led during regulation time. The only other lead they had was when Miles Wood scored in overtime of Game 1. The team has been playing from behind in every game of the series. They also managed to beat Dallas’s goalie Jake Oettinger, who was seemingly impenetrable in the two games in Denver, allowing just one goal per game. His teammates are not worried about him going forward, knowing he is mentally resilient and ready for the next game.  The absence of Dallas's first-line centre Roope Hintz, who was crucial in slowing down Colorado's top line, also helped the Avalanche.

Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars enter this game leading the series 3-2 but failed to close out the series in Game 5 on home ice. The Stars dominated Games 3 and 4 in Colorado but couldn't maintain that momentum in Game 5. Dallas outscored Colorado by a combined score of 9-2 in the two games in Colorado. They lost the first game of the series but then won Games 2, 3, and 4 with scores of 5-3, 4-1, and 5-1, respectively. In the first round of the playoffs, the Stars defeated Vegas in 7 games, winning 2 out of 3 road games. Dallas had their chances, but Colorado managed to take the upper hand in the third period, outplaying the Stars 3-1. Goalie Jake Oettinger made 22 saves, but it wasn’t enough. Oettinger will be back in net for the next game.

Now, Dallas's task is to regain their game and close out the series despite Colorado's resistance. The Stars have showcased excellent road play in this playoff and will look to capitalise on this in the upcoming game. Hintz exited Game 4 with an upper-body injury and missed Game 5, while Radek Faksa returned after missing 3 games. Hintz's status for the game is unknown. Dallas's defenceman Chris Tanev also sustained an injury but showed true hockey grit when he returned to the ice after losing a tooth during Game 5.

Prediction for Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars

After losing Nichushkin, Colorado's chances of advancing past Dallas have dwindled. The Russian, as the best offensive player for Avalanche alongside MacKinnon, was a key figure but has been caught on banned substances and will miss at least six months. Although rumours suggest that Valeri has major issues with painkillers, so he is given a chance for rehabilitation instead of having his contract terminated. Dallas can easily play defensively, and I am betting on the individual total under (ITU) of the hosts being less than 3.5.