Avalanche vs Stars Game 4 Odds & Picks – Aug. 28

1. The Dallas Stars lead the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in their second round playoff series
2. Game 4 will be played Friday, Aug. 28, at 10:00 PM Eastern (7:00 PM Pacific)
3. Expect back to back wins from Colorado thanks in large part to a pair of players playing elite hockey at both ends of the ice

Game 3 between the Avalanche and Stars was one of the best NHL games in a long time.

Colorado scored three times in a row, followed by three in a row by Dallas, followed by three in a row by Colorado again. After a wild third period that saw four goals in less than five minutes, it was the Avalanche earning the victory.

Avalanche vs Stars Game 4 Odds

Odds as of August 27th.

Colorado now trails the series 2-1 and is offering less value than they were in theGame 3 odds. Does this mean I think you should shy away?

Absolutely not.

I trust the Avalanche to even the series thanks in large part to two key players, neither of whom is Nathan MacKinnon.

Rantanen Keeping Pace With MacKinnon

Mikko Rantanen came up huge for the Avalanche in the victory. He scored the game-tying goal and extended his point streak to six games. He now has five goals and 10 assists in the post-season, which is third-best in the league. This isn’t a Batman & Robin situation, Rantanen is an elite player all on his own. Instead of a side kick, you should view Rantanen more like you might see Leon Draisaitl beside Connor McDavid.

https://twitter.com/TheReplayGuy/status/1298849847949361153?s=20

More impressive to me than the points is the brand of hockey he plays. When Dallas pulled their goalie late in the game, Rantanen was trusted to kill the clock and did even more. He forced a turnover from superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen with a strong check. The Avalanche never gave the puck back, ultimately scoring the empty net goal to seal the win.

With Rantanen playing at an elite level on both ends, it will be tough for the Stars to break even when he’s on the ice.

Makar Continues to Impress in Rookie Season

Cale Makar is nominated for the Calder Trophy this year and may very well win it. It’s a shame they don’t include playoff performances in the voting because he has been incredible. With a career-high three-assist night, he now has 11 points in 11 games while compiling a league best +11 mark.

Not only does he rack up the points, he plays incredible defense as well. Makar has yet to commit a penalty in these playoffs which is a testament to his skating ability when you consider he plays over 21 minutes a game.

Miro Heiskanen and Cale Makar sharing the same ice surface for a whole series pic.twitter.com/xl2rOE7e5H

— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) August 21, 2020

We’ve seen rookies who can skate and score before but it was Makar’s leadership that impressed me in this one. When it seemed goalie Pavel Francouz was coming unglued after the Stars took the lead, it was Makar that skated over to calm him down. Seeing that kind of poise from a 21-year-old gives me the confidence to believe he’ll continue stepping up when it matters most.

Expect Another Win From Colorado In Game 4

The Avalanche escaped a disaster late in Game 3 and that will give them plenty of momentum heading in to Friday.

Rantanen and Makar continue to impress anyone with eyes and a television set, while their teammate MacKinnon is showing no signs of slowing down. I’m confident Colorado will make it back to back wins and also like the over to hit once again. Consider a parlay if you’re feeling risky but whatever you do, don’t pass on betting the Avalanche at -139 on the moneyline.

The Pick: Avalanche Moneyline (-139)