Avalanche Slight Favorites Over Stars In the NHL Playoffs

What: Stanley Cup NHL Playoffs
Who: Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars
When: Best-of-seven series is expected to start Saturday, April 19

When assessing the first round NHL playoff playoffs, it's known for certain that one of the top-three contenders for the Stanley Cup won't be making it to the second round.

The Dallas Stars are the +650 betting favorite to win the 2025 Stanley Cup title. In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Stars are facing the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are set as the +850 third betting choice to lift Lord Stanley's fabled mug.

Oddsmakers are going with the Avalanche as the betting chalk. Colorado is set as -115 favorites in this best-of-seven series that is expected to start on Saturday.

Let's look at the latest betting line on this series. Remember, odds are subject to change.

	Moneyline
Colorado Avalanche	-115
Dallas Stars	-105

Dallas finished second in the Central Division and will have home-ice advantage over the Avalanche, third-place finishers in the division.

Best NHL Picks For You

Before we make a deeper assessment of which way to lean in the NHL playoff picks and best bets for this Avalanche vs Stars first-round series, why not take a look at our handy best NHL betting sites list to make the most out of your bets, including the latest props and futures wagering. With the playoffs underway, you may also want to service your NHL betting needs on a more comprehensive basis by checking out our NHL playoffs page. And if you're still looking to get a wager down on which NHL team is going to win the title, check out the latest betting lines on our Stanley Cup futures page.

Avalanche vs Stars Betting Trends

Dallas and Colorado also met in last year's NHL playoffs. The Stars took a six-game decision in a conference semifinal meeting.

Overall, Dallas has won four of six playoff series from Colorado. The team with the home-ice advantage has won all but one series. The Avs beat the Stars in 2006, despite Dallas holding the extra home game. A 2020 playoff battle between the two teams was held on neutral ice in Edmonton during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The NHL playoffs stats show the Avalanche holding a 19-18 straight-up edge over the Stars in all-time playoff games between the two teams. Interestingly, Colorado has played better at Dallas (11-8 SU) than on home ice (8-10 SU).

Avalanche Could Be Getting Their Captain Back

It's been more than 1,000 days since Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog played an NHL game. In fact, his last game was when he lifted the Cup as the Avalanche beat Tampa Bay in the 2022 final series.

Landeskog missed the entire 2022-23 season following surgery in his right knee. He then opted to undergo cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023. The result of that was he missed the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Gabriel Landeskog’s conditioning loan has been terminated and he will rejoin the Avalanche today. pic.twitter.com/IKD0ACbt87

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 15, 2025

It looks as though he'll be back for the playoffs. Landeskog completed a successful rehab assignment with the AHL Colorado Eagles. He rejoined the Avs earlier this week.

It's been a season of change for Colorado. The Avalanche switched out 10 players through the 2024-25 campaign. Among those added were forwards Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle and Martin Necas, as well as defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Erik Johnson. Both goalies - Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood - also arrived to Colorado via in-season trades.

Stars Will Start Without Heiskanen

Miro Heiskanen, the top defenseman for the Stars, will miss at least the start of this series due to a knee injury.

Mikko Rantanen - Dallas Stars (32)
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/7Mebwxw74B

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) April 9, 2025

Another Finn, forward Mikko Rantanen, will be facing his old club with the Stars. Rantanen won a Stanley Cup during his decade with Colorado. Set to become a free agent, he left the Avs via trade this season after declining the club's contract offer.

Dallas has no question marks in goal. Jake Oettinger again won 30+ games and will likely be a Vezina Trophy finalist.

Avalanche vs Stars Prop Bets To Consider

BetUS is offering a number of prop bets on this series. For starters, Dallas taking the set in seven games is the +425 betting choice in a series correct score prop. Colorado winning in six games is second choice at +450.

A series exact games prop has six games as the +175 chalk. There's also a series of total game props. If you think this closely-matched set is going seven games, you can bet over 6.5 games at odds of +200.

Colorado vs Dallas NHL Picks

One of either Dallas or Colorado has made the Western Conference finals in four of the last five years. There's plenty of reasons why these two teams are both elite contenders for the NHL title. Each team rates among the top five in scoring. Colorado has a top-10 power play. Dallas is No. 3 on the penalty kill.

Dallas Stars To defeat Colorado Avalanche

-105

Bet Now!

One area where there's a significant difference is in goals against. The Stars are third-best in this department. Colorado ranks 11th. In the NHL, offense gets you into the playoffs. Defense is what wins during the postseason. Bet Dallas over Colorado in the NHL playoff.