Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/21/2022

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Where to watch: ALT, BSSW-DAL

DraftKings: Even

FanDuel: Avalanche -118, Stars -102

BetMGM: Even

Caesars: Even

Avalanche: 10-5-1

Stars: 11-5-2

Avalanche: won 4-0 at Capitals on Saturday

Stars: won 5-2 vs. Islanders on Saturday

I'm not sure anybody you looked at the central division at the start of the season and believed that the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars would be number one and two in the division through the third week of November heading into Thanksgiving. And because Thanksgiving is usually the perfect spot to evaluate where your team is at that point of the season, it's fairly certain to believe that the defending Stanley Cup champions and a Dallas team with a lot of offensive firepower would be heading the charge in this division.

But it is kind of wild, as the teams will meet Monday in Dallas for the first time this season, that anything that closely resembles a true challenger to the Avalanche is likely to come in the form of a team in Dallas. And I don't think anyone expected it but I think it is a welcome surprise for anyone who has been following the Stars to this point as they are in first place in the central division.

Dallas is coming off a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday and what was another offensive display of brilliance from Dallas especially in the third. Jamie Benn, Jason Robertson, and Jani Hakanpaa all scored in the third to break a 2-2 tie after two periods. The Dallas captain had a goal and two assists to help his team get the victory, and Robertson extended his point streak to a career high 11 games.

"Every time I showed up at work this summer after I took the job, he was the first guy in the gym," Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said of Benn. "He was the first guy at training, he was the first guy trying to get quicker. Nobody put more work in than him coming into this season. I think you get what you put in sometimes. He's playing fantastic."

There has also been the play of young goaltender Jake Oettinger, who has continued to look like the front runner for the Vezina trophy through the first month and 1/2 of the season. Dallas has the ability to keep this pace going, but I do wonder with DeBoer teams of the past when they will eventually breakdown. You don't want to see it but it has happened before, especially in the playoffs. The biggest difference I believe with Dallas compared to Vegas and San Jose, is that they have the offensive firepower to operate on any given night and that is what is going to make this Dallas team successful.

This is going to be a very good measuring stick game for Dallas considering Colorado has started to find a way to win over the last couple of weeks. Colorado has won six of seven after shutting out the Washington Capitals 4-0 on Saturday thanks to a strong effort from Alex Georgiev and a two point game from Artturi Lehkonen.

"The other night [Francouz] steals us a game. Tonight, the next guy goes in and plays a great game and gets a shutout," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "I think we're spoiled in that regard right now. Both guys are kind of playing real well."

If there's one thing that I know for sure, it's that DeBoer knows how to defeat the Avalanche and this will be a good chance to see where his team ranks against the defending champions. I think Dallas gets it done. Stars win 4-3

Avalanche are 156-119 on the road when the total is 6 or more since 1996.

Avalanche are 272-237 on the road off an under since 1996.

Stars are 300-302 off a home win since 1996.

Avalanche are 69-80 off a win by 3 goals or more since 1996.

Avalanche:

Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen

Alex Newhook -- Evan Rodrigues -- Martin Kaut

Andrew Cogliano -- J.T. Compher -- Logan O'Connor

Anton Blidh -- Jayson Megna -- Dryden Hunt

Devon Toews -- Cale Makar

Jacob MacDonald -- Josh Manson

Andreas Englund -- Erik Johnson

Alexandar Georgiev

Stars:

Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski

Mason Marchment -- Tyler Seguin -- Matej Blumel

Jamie Benn -- Wyatt Johnston -- Ty Dellandrea

Radek Faksa -- Luke Glendening -- Joel Kiviranta

Ryan Suter -- Nils Lundkvist

Esa Lindell -- Colin Miller

Joel Hanley -- Jani Hakanpaa

Jake Oettinger

Points: Nathan MacKinnon -- 26

Goals: Mikko Rantanen -- 11

Assists: Nathan MacKinnon -- 21

Goalie: Alexandar Georgiev -- 8-2-2, 2.45 GAA, .930 SV%

Points: Jason Robertson -- 27

Goals: Jason Robertson -- 12

Assists: Jason Robertson -- 15

Goalie: Jake Oettinger -- 7-2-2, 2.21 GAA, .927 SV%