The pundits seem to love Colorado but we're not so sure. In the past, Pete DeBoer has been able to checkmate Jared Bednar in strategy (such as 2024 playoffs). Granted, top Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen has been out since Jan. 28, and there is new worry about star winger Jason Robertson, injured in the regular-season finale at Nashville. And Colorado has definitely re-tooled with tis many additions during the season. But Mikko Rantanen is now with Dallas and can haunt the team that dumped him (to Carolina, before his move to the Stars) during the season. We still like Jake Oettinger in goal on the Dallas side, and will take advantage of this nice price in the opener. Play Stars on Money Line

Lots of talk about Dallas injuries, especially key defender Miro Heiskanen. Now top Stars scorer Jason Robertson will miss the start of this series due to an injury suffered midweek at Nashville, but we're hardly ready to count Dallas out. Partly because of sound strategy from coach Pete DeBoer, who outmaneuvered Colorado counterpart Jared Bednar in last year's playoffs; also because of GK Jake Oettinger. While Mackenzie Blackwood upgraded the Avs in the crease after being added from San Jose in December, he's making his playoffs debut. We prefer Oettinger, and note how this was a lower-scoring series last year, as Oettinger has a track record of playoff excellence the past three years. Dallas is built for lower-scoring games in the playoffs. Play Avs-Stars Under

So next time I throw a hissy fit because some coach played his starters in a meaningless game and it cost me a bet ... I want you to remember that the Stars' Peter DeBoer played leading scorer Jason Robertson (35G, 45A) in a meaningless game Wednesday in Nashville and now Robertson might miss this series after getting hurt. That's legitimately a fireable offense, not to mention the Stars ended the season on a seven-game losing streak. But some of those games honestly meant nothing, so I don't read too much into that. Even sans Robertson, gotta take +1.5 at home with the better goaltender in Jake Oettinger. I just want OT, which will be a recurring theme in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

This series is going to be a treat for hockey fans. These are the two best teams in the Western Conference in my opinion, and there are storylines all over the place (Mikko Rantanen playing for Dallas, Gabe Landeskog potentially returning). When it comes to the actual game, the Avalanche are in a much better spot right now than the Stars. Dallas is beat up (Jason Robertson has already been ruled Out), and the Avs seem to be peaking at the right time. I expect Colorado to come away with a win in Game 1.