Sun Mar 16 19:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Avalanche Expected to Defeat Stars in Potential Playoff Preview

**Denver, CO** – The Colorado Avalanche are favored to win their matchup against the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena this afternoon, in a game seen as a potential first-round playoff preview. The Avalanche, boasting a strong home-ice advantage and a healthier roster compared to the Stars, are expected to capitalize on their strengths.

The game features a notable storyline: the return of Mikko Rantanen to Denver, now playing for the Stars. While Dallas has shown recent inconsistency, winning only one of their last three road games, Colorado enters on an eight-game point streak (7-0-1), fueled by a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Friday.

Analyst Ryan Gilbert, citing Colorado’s impressive 22-10-2 home record and Dallas’s struggles as road underdogs (3-4), predicts an Avalanche victory. He highlights the Avalanche’s superior home record and the Stars’ injury concerns, including the absences of Miro Heiskanen and Tyler Seguin, with Roope Hintz and Lian Bichsel listed as day-to-day.

Gilbert’s best bet is the Avalanche moneyline, further suggesting over 2.5 shots on goal for Cale Makar and an anytime goal scorer bet on Valeri Nichushkin. He points to Makar’s Norris Trophy-caliber season and Nichushkin’s recent scoring form as supporting evidence. While acknowledging betting trends favoring an under on the game total for the Stars, the overall prediction strongly favors a Colorado win.

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