Avalanche vs. Stars Prediction, NHL Odds & Best Bets (10/13)

Fact checked at 5:43 AM ET, Oct 13, 2026

Odds as of Oct 13, 5:19 AM ET

The league's highest-scoring team visits the team that has allowed the fewest goals. Colorado and Dallas meet Tuesday at 8:30 PM ET at American Airlines Center on ESPN, the first half of a home-and-home that finishes in Colorado on Wednesday. The Avalanche are 3-2-0 with 26 goals in five games (5.2 per game), and Nathan MacKinnon already has five goals and five assists. The Stars are 2-2-1 and have given up eight goals in five games, with Jake Oettinger carrying two shutouts in four starts and a 0.74 goals-against average. Both lost Saturday, Colorado 6-3 at home to Toronto and Dallas 2-1 in a shootout at Pittsburgh, and neither has played since.

The market can't split them. Colorado is -115 and Dallas -105 on the moneyline after both sides opened at -111 on Sunday. Coach Jared Bednar has Mackenzie Blackwood in goal for Colorado; Oettinger is expected for Dallas but hasn't been confirmed.

We're betting on Colorado's best shooter. The Avalanche put 32.4 shots per game on net, and a large share comes from MacKinnon and a first power-play unit that on Saturday had MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri, Martin Necas, Cale Makar and T.J. Hughes. Dallas allows 22.0 shots per game, third fewest in the league, but it built that number against St. Louis, Nashville, San Jose, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, five teams that all average fewer shots than Colorado. If the Stars hold the Avalanche well under 30 shots anyway, this bet is in trouble.

Avalanche vs. Stars Predictions

• Pick #1: Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-110)

PICK #1: Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-110)

MacKinnon shot 350 times in 80 games last season, 4.4 a night, and reached four or more in 52 of those games. This season he has 23 shots in five games (8, 2, 1, 4, 8, newest first), clearing this number three times. A -110 price works out to 52.4%, and his full-season rate sits well above it.

The matchup history is the worry. In four meetings with the Stars last season, MacKinnon had 4, 5, 2 and 2 shots, and both of the two-shot nights came in Dallas. At close to even money, we'll still back the player who led Colorado in shots last season.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.