Avalanche vs. Stars Recap: Necas Scores Twice, Shot Props Cash

The Colorado Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Tuesday, and Martin Necas scored twice in the 2nd period, including the eventual game-winner. Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring at 11:32 of the 1st, Tyler Seguin answered on a Dallas power play at 19:06, and then Necas took over: a slap shot at 3:05 of the 2nd for a 2-1 lead and a power-play snap shot at 16:14 that made it 3-1. Roope Hintz pulled Dallas within one at 3:17 of the 3rd, but Mackenzie Blackwood shut the door from there. Dallas outshot Colorado 26-25. Blackwood made 24 saves on 26 shots; Jake Oettinger made 22 saves on 25. Two DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Martin Necas 2+ shots on goal (-245 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Necas had 2+ shots in all 5 games this season (4, 4, 3, 2, 2) on 17-24 minutes a night, and 9 of his last 10. Both starters, Blackwood and Oettinger, were confirmed before we posted it. - What happened: 2 goals, 0 assists, 2 shots on goal in 23:24 (4:11 on the power play), plus a +2. The line needed two shots and he had exactly two, so it landed right on the number with 0.5 to spare. Both shots went in: the slap shot at 3:05 of the 2nd and the power-play snap shot at 16:14 of the 2nd. - Worth watching: The minutes are the case here. Over 23 minutes with 4:11 of power-play time is a big workload for a 2+ shots prop. The margin was thin, so keep watching the price as much as the role.

Nazem Kadri 2+ shots on goal (-210 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Kadri had 2+ shots in all 5 games (2, 4, 4, 2, 3) on 17-21 minutes, and 8 of his last 10. - What happened: 3 shots on goal in 22:47 (4:09 on the power play), 1.5 over the line. He did not get on the scoresheet (0 goals, 0 assists, -1), but the shot volume was there, along with 2 blocked shots. - Worth watching: Kadri logged more ice time than the 17-21 minute range in our read, and the power-play minutes nearly matched Necas. If that usage holds, his shot props stay worth a look.

How the game played out

The 2nd period swung it. Colorado scored twice, once at even strength and once on the power play, to turn a 1-1 game into 3-1. Colorado scored once on 3 power plays and Dallas scored on its only one. Dallas won 64.3 percent of the faceoffs and had 26 hits, but Colorado blocked 19 shots and Blackwood stopped everything after the Hintz goal.

Trends to watch

• Colorado's power play leaned on Necas and Kadri: 4:11 and 4:09 of PP time. Shot props on that group get a boost when the man advantage is busy.
• Colorado blocked 19 shots to Dallas's 6. That kind of shot suppression keeps opposing goalie save totals down.
• Dallas won the faceoff battle at 64.3 percent and still lost. Possession at the dot did not turn into goals on this night.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. More NHL nights are on the NHL hub and in the NHL recaps. New to shot props? Start with what a player prop is.