In this article, we’ll outline our best Golden Knights vs. Avalanche prediction for Game 1, as well as the relevant betting notes and NHL odds for both teams.
The Golden Knights were able to stave off a furious third-period push from the Avalanche in Game 1, and coax their three-goal lead across the finish line to cash our pick on the Knights to win at +165.
Vegas is currently priced at +160 to win Game 2, in a spot where it feels as though the Avalanche will likely deliver a sharper overall performance, which is the angle we will be taking with our best bet for the game. Tail our picks at any of the best NHL betting sites and secure your next big win with our expert picks.
Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 2 Prediction: Avs’ Bounceback with Quality Defensive Effort
Avalanche Moneyline/Golden Knights Team Total Under 2.5 Parlay +105 (bet365, Play to -105)
Relative to their hefty underdog price tag of +165, we were high on the Golden Knights in Game 1. By no means was it the most fortuitous win for the Golden Knights, as the meaningful chances prior to the multi-goal lead were fairly even, but Colorado eventually got to its game and made the bet quite a sweat (although not for bet365 users, thanks to the three-goal early payout clause).
All three of Vegas’s goals came off fairly legitimate defensive breakdowns from Colorado, but the Knights were still abnormally clinical on the few significant scoring chances they did generate. The Golden Knights generated just seven high-danger scoring chances and, even prior to earning a three-goal lead, did not truly generate much.
It feels fairly apparent how the stingy and methodical Knights will continue to try to find success in this series. Generating high-quality chances themselves should prove difficult, though, as Colorado was one of the best defensive teams in the regular season and appears dead set on cleaning up its defensive miscues heading into this matchup.
A price of +105 looks appealing to back the Avs’ bouncing back with a win in which they allow less than three goals, and I would bet it down to -105.
Avalanche Moneyline / Golden Knights Under 2.5 Total Goals
Golden Knights vs Avalanche Odds
| Golden Knights Moneyline Odds | (+160) |
| Avalanche Moneyline Odds | (-190) |
| Puck Line Odds | Golden Knights +1.5 (-160), Avalanche -1.5 (+135) |
| Series Odds | Golden Knights (+100), Avalanche (-120) |
| Goal Total | Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100) |
Odds Courtesy of bet365.
Betting Vegas Golden Knights
Considering the strength of the Avalanche, Game 1 was ultimately a fairly strong performance on the road for the Golden Knights, though the later stages of the second and entirety of the third period may be a cause for concern moving forward.
The Knights did a good job of checking Colorado’s top stars in the early portion of the game and leaned on Carter Hart to make a lot of medium-danger saves prior to earning a multi-goal lead, before Colorado really poured it on once score effects took hold. Prior to Game 1, we talked about how strong an indicator the regular-season xGA/60 rating has been towards recent Stanley Cup Playoff success. Game 1 offered a glimpse of how the Knights’ defensive play, coupled with strong goaltending, will make them a tough out in the series.
But the Knights’ bottom six did not generate many scoring chances, and continues to appear to be a clear weakness relative to what Colorado is offering, which is a concern given the onus that then places on Vegas’s top stars to produce in line with Colorado’s.
The Knights’ strong second line of Mitch Marner, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Brett Howden was outchanced somewhat significantly, though Marner and Dorofeyev were able to link up on a pretty power play marker.
The Knights generated only 2.07 expected goals at even strength in Game 1, and it currently feels as though the team may end up being highly reliant on an elite power play to generate looks in this series.
Hart authored another excellent performance in Game 1 and has been razor-sharp this postseason aside from the early part of Round 1. He now holds a +6.3 GSAx rating and a .918 save percentage this postseason, after a tumultuous regular season campaign following a late start to the season.
Betting Colorado Avalanche
Nate MacKinnon was not interested in any excuses postgame following the series opener, pointing to the team’s overall lack of execution as the reason for the loss. Though the Avs did make some legitimate mistakes on the Knights’ three tallies, it did not appear to be a performance that suggested the team can not find success if Cale Makar is to remain sidelined for a lengthy period of time.
The Avalanche failed to capitalize on several quality scoring chances, which put them in an uphill battle as they pressed for offence against a team that was among the NHL’s best defensively this season. But as the game wore on, their overall pace of play and possession control picked up, and the tremendous depth of the lineup began to shine through.
While Makar is sidelined, the Knights arguably hold a superior defensive core, but Colorado’s depth up front has been a major strength this postseason and offers a clear edge.
Colorado’s third line of Ross Colton, Nazem Kadri and Val Nichushkin was a clear strength in Game 1, and should offer a sustainable edge throughout the rest of the series. The team’s fourth line of Parker Kelly, Jack Drury and Logan O’Connor was also quite dominant and continues to offer a low-maintenance fourth line that is capable of hanging in defensively even in tougher matchups.
It wasn’t Sam Malinski’s best game by any means, as he is the most important defender in masking the loss of Makar if Makar remains sidelined in Game 2. Malinski had a fantastic season, filled in well during Makar’s absence at the tail end of the year, and should be capable of delivering a sharper showing in Game 2.
Scott Wedgewood stopped 24-of-27 shots in Game 1 and will likely get the start in Game 2. He’d maybe like to have the series opening tally allowed to Dylan Coghlan back, but overall it was a steady showing, and he now holds a +1.5 GSAx and .911 save percentage across nine appearances this postseason.
