Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Predictions, Picks and Series Odds for Game 1 on May 7

Series Predictions: Who Has the Edge and Five Things to Watch

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars will face off in Game 1 of their Western Conference Second Round series on Saturday, May 7 at 8:00 PM EST. The Avalanche are the defending Stanley Cup champions and are the heavy favorites to win the series, but the Stars are a dangerous team and should not be overlooked.

Here are five things to watch in the series:

1.

Can the Avalanche's offense continue to produce?

The Avalanche have one of the most dangerous offenses in the NHL, led by Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. They averaged 4.1 goals per game in the regular season and have scored at least four goals in each of their first two playoff games.

2.

Can the Stars' defense slow down the Avalanche's offense?

The Stars have a solid defense led by Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell. They allowed just 2.6 goals per game in the regular season and have held their opponents to two goals or less in each of their first two playoff games.

3.

Can the Stars' offense generate enough offense?

The Stars' offense is not as prolific as the Avalanche's, but they have some dangerous players, including Jason Robertson, Joe Pavelski, and Roope Hintz. They will need to find a way to generate enough offense to keep up with the Avalanche.

4.

Can the Avalanche's goaltending hold up?

The Avalanche's goaltending has been a question mark all season. Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz have both struggled at times, and the Avalanche will need them to play well in order to win the series.

5.

Can the Stars' special teams make a difference?

The Stars have a good power play and penalty kill, which could give them an edge in the series. The Avalanche have a good power play as well, but their penalty kill is not as strong.

Avalanche vs Stars Series Odds and Score Predictions

The Avalanche are the heavy favorites to win the series, but the Stars are a dangerous team and should not be overlooked. Here are the series odds and score predictions from a variety of sportsbooks:

* **Avalanche to win series:** -125 * **Stars to win series:** +105 * **Avalanche to win Game 1:** -140 * **Stars to win Game 1:** +120 * **Over 6 goals in Game 1:** -110 * **Under 6 goals in Game 1:** -110

Our prediction: Avalanche to win series in 6 games.