NHL Stars vs Avalanche Picks and Odds | March 16, 2025

Written by: Nick Zanghi

Last Updated: Sun Mar 16, 2025, 11:12 AM

Read Time: 5 minutes

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Tonight, the Dallas Stars take on the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. This will be the first time that Mikko Rantanen makes his return to Colorado since being traded. These 2 teams met back in January and the Avs won 6-3 but let’s get into today’s Stars vs Avalanche picks.

Colorado has 40-24-3 this season and 3rd in the Central Division. They come into this game off a win over the Flames Friday night. The Avs are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and have a 22-10-2 record at home. In the division though, they are 10-10-2, so they look to break that .500 record tonight.

As we know, this team has one of the best offenses in the league led by Nathan MacKinnon. They rank 6th in goals scored and 7th in shots on goal per game. Colorado shoots the puck well, having the 7th best shooting percentage in the league and also has a decent power play, ranking 12th.

On defense, they are led by former Norris Trophy winner and possibly the best defenseman in the league, Cale Makar. They rank 11th in goals allowed and 3rd best in shots on goal allowed per game. The Avs play pretty smart hockey, only committing just over 3 penalties per game. Their penalty kill is middle of the road at 15th.

Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood is expected in net. He has a 24-16-6 record with a 2.38 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Blackwood same over from the Sharks in a trade for goalie Alexander Georgiev earlier in the season.

Rantanen will look to find himself right at home today

Newly acquired Dallas Star Mikko Rantanen skates the ice during warmups.

The Stars are 42-21-2 so far and are 2nd in the Central Division. They come into this game off a bad loss to the Jets Friday night. Dallas is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and 18-14-1 on the road. In divisional play, they look good with a 13-5-1 record.

We have another stacked offense over here. The addition of Mikko Rantanen brings this team to a whole new level. They already had guys like Jason Robertson, Jaime Benn and Roope Hintz so they are really dangerous with one of the league’s top goal scorers joining the team.

They rank 4th in the league for goals scored and 8th in the league for shots on goal per game. The Stars shoot the puck smart and well with a 11.6% shooting percentage that ranks 4th in the league. Their power play is the only middle of the road stat and they’re still 14th in the league.

Dallas is just as stacked defensively. They rank 5th best for goals allowed and 11th in shots on goal allowed per game. This team is lock down on the penalty kill with the best kill in the league. Like Colorado, they play smart and don’t commit many penalties per game.

Goaltender Jake is expected to start. He is 30-15-2 this season with a 2.52 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Oettinger is 4-1-0 in his last 5 games vs the Avs with a 2.00 GAA and a .923 save percentage. Let’s check out the odds and get into the picks.

Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche Betting Odds and Game Information

Stars vs Avalanche Betting Odds

Puck Line

Dallas Stars +1.5 (-215)
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+170)

Moneyline

Dallas Stars +120
Colorado Avalanche -140

Totals

Over 5.5 (-130)
Under 5.5 (+110)

Odds courtesy of BetOnline – Get 50% up to $1000 on your first deposit

Stars vs Avalanche Game Information

Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Date: Sunday March 16, 2025
Puck Drop: 3:30pm EST
TV: TNT, TruTV, ALT

Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction and Picks

Stars vs Avalanche Picks and Predictions: Colorado Avalanche Moneyline (-140) Get 50% up to $1000 Deposit on BetOnline for this pick

I’m going with the Avs at home today. They have such a good home record and let’s be honest – as much of a chip on his shoulder that Rantanen may have, well it works both ways. I’m sure the team was not happy losing him and then the way it all went down doesn’t help.

Oettinger will pose the problem for the Avs. I think this offense can cook but getting them in the back of the net may be the problem. If that is the case, they will need to play extra defense to keep the Stars out of their zone.

For props, we have to go with Rantanen here. Total narrative play, but how do we not? To record 3 or more shots on goal is insane value at +104. He has fallen short of his shot line the last 2 games, but this will be a different game. Sprinkle his goal for +185 as well.

On the other side of the ice, I like Martin Necas to record his 3 or more shots on goal for +108. Necas has great history vs the Stars, hitting in his last 7 out of 8 games and in his last 4 home games vs Dallas. We should see a great game here, so let’s sit back, watch and cash some tickets!