Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche Playoff Series Preview

The Dallas Stars have found their groove while the Colorado Avalanche haven't really had a slip-up in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. 

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2024 NHL Playoff Previews: Second Round

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Dallas stars vs. colorado avalanche Playoff Series Hub

Dallas stars vs. colorado avalanche Schedule

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Dallas stars vs. colorado avalanche Series Winner Odds

Odds as of May 7

Colorado's offense was untouchable in the first round, scoring 29 goals across five games. Did it help that Winnipeg's defense was non-existent? Probably. But, there's no denying this group has four lines rolling and the core players stepping up. 

Dallas struggled a bit with Vegas but I don't blame them. Abusing the LTIR makes the Golden Knights lineup tougher to overcome. Still, the Stars got progressively brighter with Jake Oettinger looking more comfortable between the pipes every night.

Dallas stars vs. colorado avalanche Total Games Odds

Odds as of May 7

Oddsmakers are thinking this will be a long, hard-fought series. We've got a top-notch offense, averaging 5.60 GPG this postseason. But, we've also seen Dallas' effort in its own zone prevail, giving Vegas two goals or fewer in five of the seven-game series. 

Dallas stars vs. colorado avalanche Series Prediction Odds

Odds as of May 7

Again, oddsmakers are predicting this series goes the distance and I agree. I think we'll all get whiplash watching this go back and forth, with Colorado's offense filling the net some games and Dallas' goaltending shutting it down on other occasions. 

Dallas stars vs. colorado avalanche 2023-24 Betting Results

Colorado may have had the upper hand in the regular season series but Dallas got the last laugh. The Stars seemed to realize, "Hey, if we can't stop them from scoring then we need to out-score them" and it worked. 

If the four regular season games are any indication of what is to come, expect a lot of high-scoring affairs. 

Notable Player Performances

Arturri Lehkonen: Yes, the first player to come to my mind. I will not shut up about Lehkonen and sure, it probably is because I loved him on my Habs. 

This kid scored in every single game last series, finishing with eight total points. Alongside Mittelstadt, this pairing is just as lethal as the first line. Depth, people! 

Jake Oettinger: Oettinger made the first two games of the playoffs, where he allowed seven total goals, look like total flukes. The five games that followed, the 26-year-old allowed just seven goals and record a .941SV% or higher in three of those five.

He singlehandedly took back the series. If Oettinger is plugged in, he'll make things difficult for Colorado.

Jake Oettinger has been locked in crunch time. 🔒@DallasStars | #TexasHockey | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/hSCjL1pTD2

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) May 4, 2024

Expert Prediction: Stars (-120), Stars 4-3 (+425)

How well will Colorado be able to get ahead of Dallas' defense? There's no denying Oettinger has more playoff experience, seeing the postseason four times and clutching a .918SV% overall. 

Be warned of the extra man as Colorado capitalizes on 37.5% of powerplays this postseason. Again, I think it will be a back-and-forth series but Dallas' goaltending will be the visible difference.

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