Stars vs. Avalanche Prediction, Odds & Expert Picks: NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Wednesday, April 23
The Dallas Stars' resilience in Game 2 should inject some belief into the collective entering tonight's Game 3 at Ball Arena in Denver (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), but will it be enough to overcome the Stanley Cup odds favorites and one of the league's most dominant home teams?
Our Stars vs. Avalanche prediction and NHL picks expect not as we back Colorado to regain its series advantage while profiling Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Matt Duchene in our player prop bets. As of Wednesday afternoon, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said "we'll see" if forward Gabriel Landeskog makes his return to NHL game action after missing the past three years.
👉 For more playoff predictions and expert picks, check out: Stanley Cup Predictions and odds
📡 How to watch Stars vs. Avalanche live (Game 3)
📅 Wednesday, April 23
🕗 9:30 p.m. ET
📍 Ball Arena (Denver)
📺 ESPN, SN360 | 🛜 ESPN+, Sportsnet+
📊 Best Stars vs. Avalanche odds, records, stats & trends - Wednesday, April 23
📈 Check out our Stars vs. Avalanche matchup page for full team stats and betting line history.
💡 Stars vs. Avalanche predictions, expert picks & best bets: Game 3
✅ Against the spread pick: Stars +1.5 (-165 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Avalanche 3-way ML (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 goals (-115 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Stars vs. Avalanche Game 3 prediction
- Avalanche 4, Stars 2
📰 Stars vs. Avalanche Game 3 preview
The Stars almost do enough in Game 2 to make up for their eight consecutive Game 1 defeats. On Monday, they improved to 6-2 in their last eight Game 2's, putting together a performance for the ages. Every member of the Stars roster played like it was the final game of their careers, and it showed, exemplified by their 4.92 expected goals.
The Avalanche were overwhelmed for large portions of the contest, mustering just 2.22 expected goals. According to MoneyPuck.com, all 18 Dallas players had a higher expected goals percentage than Jonathan Drouin (43.83%), the best of the Avs players. It's a stat I've never seen before, epitomizing the Stars' wholesale dominance.
Colorado a more intense avalanche at home
But, by the predicted score above, you obviously saw this coming; Colorado is a markedly more intense avalanche at home. The fact that they almost beat the Stars after being so comprehensively outplayed is telling, and it won't recur in the Mile High City. The Avs were 9-2-1 down the stretch, with the setback to Vancouver in the final game at Ball Arena more meaningless than learning advanced calculus in high school.
In his first two postseason contests, Mackenzie Blackwood outperformed Jake Oettinger. The Avalanche netminder will only get more comfortable with more reps.
While Miro Heiskanen is traveling with the team, there is no word on whether he'll feature. Jason Robertson stayed in Dallas and will not be available.
The only thing I don't like about this bet is the need for the Avs to win in regulation. However, there isn't enough value in backing them on the moneyline.
✅ Best bet: Avalanche 3-way ML (-115 via DraftKings)
🥅 Best NHL player prop bets for Stars vs. Avalanche: Game 3
🔎 Our NEW NHL player prop odds tool can help you find the best NHL odds across legal sportsbooks in your area!
🚨 Nathan MacKinnon Over 1.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐
MacKinnon has accelerated into the playoffs like he does when bull-rushing petrified opponents. He is receiving the second-shortest Conn Smythe Trophy odds thanks to scoring four points in the first two games, three of which in Game 1. He's almost always more productive in the thin air of Mile High City, where he scored 68 points in 40 regular-season games.
DraftKings has the longest odds of our best NHL betting sites (+126), where a $10 wager would profit $12.60.
💰 Best odds: +126 via DraftKings
🚨 Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Makar has an assist in each of the first two games and seven helpers in his last six regular-season games against the Stars. He had 33 assists in 41 home games during the regular season and will be in the mood in his first home playoff game of the year. A winning bet at DraftKings would profit a $7.69.
💰 Best odds: -130 via bet365
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🚨 Matt Duchene Over 1.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐
Despite not playing at his best, Duchene hit the Over in both games in Dallas. The lower total provides a good shot at hitting the Over on the road, and his -106 odds are the most palatable of the bunch. I'm veering away from point props for the Stars, as I don't think they'll score more than two goals.
💰 Best odds: -106 BetRivers
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🚀 Best same-game parlay (SGP) for Stars vs. Avalanche: Game 3
🧪 Want to make your own SGP? Check out our NEW parlay calculator to get the best odds for any same-game parlay.
📈 Live Stars vs. Avalanche odds & Game 3 betting lines
Latest Stars vs. Avalanche odds from our best sports betting sites.
🪧 Stars vs. Avalanche Game 3 opening odds
Opening odds via BetMGM.
- Puck line: Stars +1.5 (-175) | Avalanche -1.5 (+130)
- Moneyline: Stars +140 | Avalanche -170
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)
🚑 Stars vs. Avalanche injury report & lineup notes: Game 3
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