Avalanche-Stars Game 5 preview: Series heads back to Dallas as a best of three

The Colorado Avalanche are back in action for Game 5 against the Dallas Stars on Monday night in Dallas for a pivotal Game 5 that could determine the outcome of the series

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Apr 28, 2025, 10:26 AM Updated: 10:53 am

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The Colorado Avalanche came out flying in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round against the Dallas Stars. Mackenzie Blackwood posted the first shutout of his postseason career, Gabriel Landeskog scored his first NHL goal since the 2022 playoffs and Nathan MacKinnon scored his fourth goal of the series, tied for the most of any player in the playoffs.

The series now heads back to the Lone Star State as a best-of-three. Home-ice advantage has not been a major factor in the series, as the road team has won two of the first four games, including Dallas’s upset in Game 3 when the Stars spoiled Landeskog’s return. The Avalanche will have to win at least one game at the American Airlines Center in order to flip their postseason script against the Stars and get their first series victory against Dallas since 2006.

The Stars are getting closer to being healthier, while the Avalanche seemed to have found the right line combinations for the offense after re-integrating Landeskog in the lineup before Game 3. This matchup has been a high-level chess match between head coaches Jared Bednar and Pete DeBoer, and now it’s DeBoer’s turn to make a move.

The Avalanche out-shot the Stars 48-23 in Game 4, despite Dallas having three more power play opportunities than Colorado. DeBoer will need to find a way to slow down Colorado’s top six while finding a way to give a spark to his offense.

How to watch Game 5 of Avalanche-Stars

Game 5 will be broadcast on ESPN and Altitude TV with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Denver time. It will also be streamed on Altitude+.

View the full series schedule here.

Odds for Game 5 of Avalanche-Stars

Moneylines: Avalanche -140, Stars +116

Puck lines: Avalanche -1.5 (+180), Stars +1.5 (-225)

Total: 5.5

Colorado has been the odds-on favorite in every single game of the series. After the over hit in the first two games of the series, extending the overall streak to five games, the under has come back in the previous two games as the physicality and defensive intensity has ramped up.

Projected lines for Game 5 of Avalanche-Stars

Avalanche
Lehkonen – MacKinnon – Necas
Landeskog – Nelson – Nichushkin
Kiviranta – Coyle – Drouin
Kelly – Drury – O’Connor

Makar – Towes
Girard – Manson
Lindgren – Malinski

Blackwood
Wedgewood

Stars
Granlund – Hintz – Rantanen
Marchment – Duchene – Seguin
Benn – Johnston – Dadonov
Back – Steel – Blackwell

Lindell – Ceci
Harley – Lyubushkin
Bichsel – Petrovic

Oettinger
DeSmith

*Lines reported from practice ahead of Game 5. Subject to change when teams take the ice for warmups*

Injury notes/report for Game 5 of Avalanche-Stars

Avalanche
Ross Colton is still dealing with the injury that he suffered in Game 1 and has not received a status update heading into Game 5.

Stars
Miro Heiskanen skated with the other recent scratches at Stars practice on Monday, but will not play in Game 5. However, his presence at practice is another step in a positive direction for his recovery, and he has not been ruled out for the rest of the series, leaving a return on the table. On the other hand, Jason Robertson is still a ways away from playing after suffering a lower-body injury in the last week of the regular season. Nils Lundkvist was also on the ice at practice.

What to watch for in Game 5 of Avalanche-Stars

Colorado’s second line, headlined by Gabriel Landeskog, against Dallas’s, headlined by Matt Duchene. Earlier in the series, Jared Bednar said that he needed to see more from his second line after having no impact in the 4-3 loss in Game 2, and the return of Gabriel Landeskog has helped him find a combination to reignite that line. In Game 2, Landeskog, Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin were all a +2 when on the ice and were constantly pushing the Stars around.

Even beyond the goal, Landeskog has been elite. The Avs have 98 (!!!) percent of the expected goal share with him on the ice at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick, and are out-shooting Dallas 8-0.

Him coming back is remarkable. Him already playing at this level is mind boggling.

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) April 27, 2025

Landeskog was also elevated to the top power play unit for Colorado in Game 4, and his presence helped as the Avalanche were able to convert on their only power play opportunity of the game after going 0-for-6 in Game 3. His presence on the ice has been invaluable through two games, and he elevated every unit he was a part of in the two games in Denver.