The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are delivering one of the best series we’ve ever seen in the 2024 NHL Western Conference Semifinals. As the Stars edge closer to moving onto the Conference Finals with a 3-1 series lead, the betting market heats up with excellent prop bets for the upcoming game 5.
We’re going to get into our top 4 prop picks for the game in just a moment, but we would be remiss if we left out a couple of bonus offers we have on hand.
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With a bonus offer in your hand, here’s who we think will make or break the prop bet market.
Cale Makar, known for his powerful on-ice presence, more so during power plays, has not been as effective in this series. With the Avalanche struggling to convert on power-play opportunities and the Stars' penalty kill stepping up, betting on Makar to score under 0.5 power-play points seems reasonable.
Given the Avalanche’s current form and Makar’s recent performances, this bet leans on the overall probability that the Avs will have a tough time scoring even in the power play and recent team-based trends rather than individual brilliance or lack thereof.
Nathan MacKinnon, a pivotal player for the Avs, has consistently delivered during the playoffs, racking up 12 points in the series so far. When you watch his puck handling, it’s simply masterful.
MacKinnon's ability to step up under pressure makes betting on him to score over 1.5 points an easy choice.
As the Avalanche face a must-win scenario heading into game 5, expect MacKinnon to be at the forefront of their offense to keep them alive. We’re thinking he’ll make crucial plays and potentially alter the course of the game, if not the series.
Jake Oettinger has been a cornerstone for the Stars when he’s in the net. He’s been excellent throughout this series, and his performances have directly contributed to their current lead.
With the Avalanche fighting to stay in contention, they are likely to be aggressive and increase their shot volume, which plays directly into this prop bet. Think of the Avs like a rabid animal in a cage fighting for freedom. Unfortunately for them, they have to get the shots past Jake.
Oettinger making over 27.5 saves is not just a possibility but likely, as he has been consistently stopping 30+ shots in the previous games.
Miro Heiskanen has already proven himself to be an offensive threat from the blue line. He’s scored multiple times this series, including two goals in Game 2.
Heiskanen’s willingness to shoot has been one of the biggest factors in the series up to this point, and with the Stars likely to capitalize on any offensive opportunity to close the series, betting on him to have over 2.5 shots on goal is an easy bet.
Though he’s one of the best defensemen on the ice, his ability to take a shot, shown off in previous games, makes it a common sense bet for those looking at player-based performance metrics. We think Miro will do everything he can to get the Stars to the Conference Finals and he'll have to take shots to do it.
Game 1: Colorado 4 - Dallas 3
Game 2: Colorado 3 - Dallas 5
Game 3: Dallas 4 - Colorado 1
Game 4: Dallas 5 - Colorado 1
Each of these prop bets not only takes into account individual player statistics and recent performances but also the context of the series through 4 games. The way each team plays changes with each game as they inch closer to either moving on or ending the season in defeat.
With the Stars looking to close out the series and the Avs obviously desperate to extend it, the dynamics of Game 5 will be significantly different from the earlier games and likely to play into these prop bets.
Players like MacKinnon and Heiskanen are expected to take more risks and assert themselves offensively as they try to stay alive, while play-makers like Makar might find it challenging to break through the Stars' defensive setup.
On top of it all, Oettinger’s role in the net will be pivotal to the Stars’ success and ability to move forward in the series; his performance could be the difference between a win and a loss for the Stars. So far, he's been nearly lights-out, which is a great sign. His ability to handle the Avalanche's aggressive play will be essential, making his prop bet one of the more intriguing ones. Despite this, we think he’ll have no problem shutting them down as it’s simply what he does.
Understanding the flow of the series through this point, the individual capabilities of players, and the tactical approaches of both teams can greatly affect the strategic placement of bets. This makes it a great time to use a Bet365 bonus offer or the DraftKings promo we mentioned earlier.
Whether you're an experienced sports bettor or a casual fan looking to add a bit more excitement to a game you’re already planning on watching, these prop bets offer to cap off your NHL playoff experience in style.