High Drama Returns: Avalanche and Stars Rivalry Heats Up
It’s déjà vu in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars lining up for another postseason showdown. These two teams aren’t strangers to playoff tension—just last year, Dallas knocked Colorado out in the second round. This time, they meet right away in the opening salvo of the 2025 postseason, bringing a fresh set of plot twists and a score to settle.
Neither team is coming in red-hot. The Stars closed their regular season with a four-game losing streak, despite a 50-26-6 record that landed them second in the Central Division. The Avalanche, just a step behind at 49-29-4, didn’t set the world on fire near the finish line either, dropping three of their last five. During the regular season, Colorado had the slight upper hand, winning two out of three clashes.
Key Factors: Injuries, Comebacks, and Game-Changing Trades
An Avalanche captain returns, a fan-favorite faces off against his old squad, and both teams are already coping with injury blows. Gabriel Landeskog throws a major curveball into this series; after two long years out, he’s just come back to Colorado’s lineup following a conditioning stint. Nobody’s sure if he’s back to vintage form, but his presence alone could tilt the balance for the Avalanche. His leadership and grit have always set the tone for Colorado.
Meanwhile, hockey fans are buzzing about Mikko Rantanen’s new threads. He wore the Avalanche crest for years before a trade sent him east, and a deadline swap brought him to Dallas. Facing his old friends—this time in a Stars jersey and with a trip to the next round on the line—adds real spice to this matchup. Expect Rantanen to have extra motivation, and you know his ex-teammates will be itching to shut him down.
The Stars aren’t just bringing in new faces—they’re losing a big one, at least for now. Jason Robertson is out for Game 1 and possibly longer. He’s Dallas’s top scorer and a mainstay on their power play, so the Stars’ offense has to find new ways to threaten without him. That puts pressure on other forwards, like Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston, to step up.
All these changes make it tough to predict exactly how the series will play out, but a few things stick out. Colorado has a lot of scoring threats who can take over games. Nathan MacKinnon, known for his powerful skating and clutch goals, will test Dallas’s defense, especially now that the Stars have to adjust their lines and strategy with Robertson sidelined.
Don’t sleep on the goaltenders, either. Fans will be watching the battle between Pavel Francouz, who’s been solid in net for the Avalanche, and Jake Oettinger, the Stars’ young and promising goalie. A hot performance by either guy could swing a game or even the whole series.
Analysts and prediction models are pointing out key trends, too. Colorado’s depth stands out, and their ability to move the puck quickly and generate quality scoring chances has exposed Dallas’s defense at times. The Stars have shown defensive holes, especially toward the end of this season, and missing Robertson won’t help them outscore their mistakes. Sports betting insiders have Colorado as a -134 moneyline favorite, and their projected edge comes from this combination of offensive depth and weakened competition up front for Dallas.
Looking at the bigger picture, if Colorado keeps up the pressure and gets any boost from Landeskog, they could cover the puck line in several key games. While nothing’s guaranteed in playoff hockey—where momentum can slip away with a single turnover—the Avalanche are set up well to take advantage of this version of the Stars.