Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars Pick & Prediction APRIL 19th 2025

Preview and Prediction

The playoffs for the Stanley Cup have not yet commenced, however, the Dallas Stars have already suffered a significant setback.

On the brink of hosting Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, head coach Pete DeBoer revealed that top scorer Jason Robertson would be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time due to a lower-body injury sustained in the final game of the regular season.

"Next man up. That's just how it goes this time of year," DeBoer stated. "We won't be the only team starting without a key player or losing someone at some point. That's just the nature of the playoffs. We have to keep moving forward."

The absence of Robertson is a major blow to the Dallas team, who is already without their top defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Despite finishing second in the Central Division, the Stars have struggled in their recent games and ended the regular season with a seven-game winless streak (0-5-2).

The team must now find a way to turn their luck around against a Colorado squad that has been gaining momentum since mid-February.

"We have no choice but to do it," said forward Tyler Seguin, who returned to the lineup for the final game after undergoing hip surgery in December. "We've seen other teams do it and we're going to do it too."

Dallas defeated Colorado in six games during the second round of the playoffs last season.

Adding another layer of intrigue to the series is the presence of Mikko Rantanen, who was traded from Colorado to the Carolina Hurricanes in January after failing to reach a contract extension with the team. Shortly before the trade deadline, Rantanen was then sent to Dallas and signed an eight-year deal.

"I have many friends on that team, but once the puck drops for Game 1, it's all business and we will be competing against each other," Rantanen stated. "It's all business. Everyone wants to win."

The Avalanche made several changes to their roster throughout the season. Along with the Rantanen trade, which brought in forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury, the team also made moves to acquire goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, defensemen Erik Johnson and Ryan Lindgren, and veteran forwards Charlie Coyle and Brock Nelson.

"It wasn't our intention," general manager Chris MacFarland explained. "We didn't plan on needing to change our goaltending or anything like that. It was just one of those seasons where things fell into place that way."

In addition, captain Gabriel Landeskog is expected to return after being sidelined for nearly three seasons due to knee surgeries. Landeskog, who last played in the NHL when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, played in a couple of AHL games to prepare for his return.

"It's exciting for us because it gives us another option," said head coach Jared Bednar. "To have a player of his caliber potentially ready to go is only a positive in my mind."

Now, the Avalanche must try to win the Stanley Cup without Rantanen, who has been one of the team's top scorers since their relocation from Quebec City and played a crucial role in their championship victory three years ago.

"I'm solely focused on this team," stated forward Nathan MacKinnon. "I've played against friends before. It is what it is."

PREDICTION

Colorado Avalanche

4

3

Dallas Stars

Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars Recap APR 19TH 2025