Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/04/2026

Game Time: 3:00 pm ET, Saturday, April 4, 2026

Venue:  American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Where to Watch:  ABC, ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -110, Stars -110; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -110, Stars -110; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -110, Stars -110; Over/Under:  6 goals

Colorado Avalanche:  49-15-10 (1st place, Central Division)

Dallas Stars:  45-19-12 (2nd place, Central Division)

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Colorado Avalanche:  5-4-1 last 10

Dallas Stars:  3-5-2 last 10

The Avalanche are entering this game with 108 points, a 49-15-10 record overall, and they are 25-7-5 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Vancouver Canucks in their last game, losing that one at home 8-6. Sam Malinski led the team in goals scored with 2 while Brent Burns, Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Parker Kelly each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Devon Toews and Valeri Nichushkin each led the team in assists with 2 while Nathan MacKinnon led the team in shots on net in that game with 7. Mackenzie Blackwood was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 6 goals on 19 shots with 13 saves and a .684 save percentage before getting pulled and replaced by Scott Wedgewood who allowed 1 goal on 6 shots with 5 saves and a .833 save percentage. Their offense has scored 283 goals this season averaging 3.8 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 193 goals against them allowing 2.6 goals per game.

The Stars are entering this game with 102 points, a 45-19-12 record overall, and they are 23-10-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Winnipeg Jets in their last game, winning that one at home 3-0. Adam Erne, Arttu Hyry, and Matt Duchene each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Adam Erne, Arttu Hyry, Jamie Benn, Lian Bichsel, Mikko Rantanen, and Miro Heiskanen each led the team in assists with 1 while Jason Robertson led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Jake Oettinger was the starting goalie in that game and he recorded the shutout as he allowed 0 goals on 22 shots with 22 saves and a 1.000 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 258 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 209 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a pick 'em in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have looked great in their games this season with their 49-15-10 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the West with the best record in the entire NHL. They have been a great road team too with their 25-7-5 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Stars have looked great in their games this season with their 45-19-12 record overall which has them right near the top of their division in the West with one of the best records in the entire NHL. They have looked great on home ice too with their 23-10-4 home record this season. The Stars have been one of the best teams in the NHL all year, but lately they haven't looked great and they don't really have any pressure to finish the season strong. They are 6 points behind the Avalanche in 1st, but also 6 points ahead of the Wild in 3rd, so their spot is pretty much safe and they have cooled off lately as a result. They are off a nice 3-0 win over the Jets in their last one, but they are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and now they are facing an Avalanche team that has played them really well all season. The Avalanche haven't been rolling lately themselves and they are off an 8-6 loss to the Canucks in their last one, but they are still the hotter team lately with a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games and they will be looking to bounce back after giving up 8 goals in their last one. The Avalanche are pretty much untouchable in the standings with the season they have had, but they still haven't clinched the division yet so they will be motivated to win this game. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game. 

Avalanche Stars Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Saturday, April 4, 2026 (3:00 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 4 Stars 2.

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Colorado Avalanche: 157-99 (-7.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 43-39 (-7.7 units) on the moneyline when the money line is -100 to -150. 67-59 (-11.1 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 25-9 UNDER against poor offensive teams - averaging 26.5 shots on goal per game or less. 

Dallas Stars: 166-110 (+8.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 84-45 (+8.5 units) on the moneyline as a home favorite. 22-16 (+5.2 units) on the moneyline against good defensive teams - opponents average 26.5 shots on goal or less. 38-24 UNDER after allowing 1 goal or less in their previous game.

Colorado Avalanche:  C. Makar (D) Out - Upper Body. N. Roy (C) Out - Upper Body.

Dallas Stars:  T. Myers (D) Day To Day - Undisclosed M. Bunting (LW) Out - Lower Body. N. Bastian (RW) Out - Hand. S. Steel (C) Out - Hip. R. Hintz (C) Out - Lower Body. R. Faksa (C) Out - Upper-body. T. Seguin (C) Out For Season - ACL.

“Effort for 20 minutes and doing the right things for 20 minutes isn't good enough. I like the way we played in the third, but the reality of it is, if you want to win in this league, you have to play that way for 60 minutes. But we weren't even close. Wasn't a great first and got worse in the second. There's no excuse. I think if we're making excuses for that performance, it's going to be a short (playoff) run.” - Jared Bednar after his team’s loss against the Canucks in their game on Wednesday.

“You’re going to be in situations coming up that are hard situations. Can you sit down in the morning and get yourself centered and re-centered and come out and play a good game? We did some individual video this morning and we challenged our guys a little bit. Like, ‘Hey, enough’s enough.’ It was a really good response from a character group.” - Glen Gulutzan after his team’s win against the Jets in their game on Thursday. 

LW Artturi Lehkonen

C Nathan MacKinnon

RW Martin Necas

LD Devon Toews

RD Sam Malinski

G MacKenzie Blackwood

LW Jamie Benn

C Wyatt Johnston

RW Mikko Rantanen

LD Esa Lindell

RD Miro Heiskanen

G Jake Oettinger

Points: Nathan MacKinnon (121)

Goals: Nathan MacKinnon (50)

Assists: Nathan MacKinnon (71)

GAA: Scott Wedgewood (2.19)

Points: Jason Robertson (89)

Goals: Wyatt Johnston (41)

Assists: Miro Heiskanen (53)

GAA: Casey DeSmith (2.38)

Coaches:

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (10th season)

Dallas Stars: Glen Gulutzan (1st season)