After nearly two weeks off due to COVID-19 concerns, the Avalanche finally hit the ice again, on Sunday.  Colorado is in Vegas for their first meeting with the Golden Knights this season.

The Avs are -120 favourites to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0.

Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Betting Analysis

These are the top-2 teams in the Western Conference, but they haven’t played each other since Vegas’ 4-3 overtime win during last year’s playoff seeding round robin in the NHL bubble.  Alex Tuch had the OT winner.  Sports Interaction bettors are fairly split, with 51 per cent taking the Golden Knights.  One thing bettors can agree on, is this could be a high scoring game.  Over 70 per cent of bettors are taking the Over at 6.0 goals.

Colorado has struggled to cover the spread outside of Denver.  The Avs are just 1-5 against the spread on the road and 4-7 ATS overall.  The Avalanche have hit the Over in half of their six road games.

Vegas is 5-7 ATS this season.  The Golden Knights have covered four times at home and once on the road.  Vegas has hit the Over in eight of 12 games overall, including seven of eight homes games.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche have been shut down by COVID-19 for two weeks, so it’s fair to wonder about their legs in this one.  Colorado was 4-0-1 in their last five games before the pause.  The Avs’ have had fives game postponed since their 2-1 win over Minnesota on Feb 2.  Valeri Nichushkin and Logan O’Connor had the goals for Colorado, while Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 of 28 shots.  Grubauer has been a big part of Colorado’s success this year.  Among goalies with at least six starts, Grubauer is tied with Marc-Andre Fleury for the best save percentage (.934) in the NHL and he has second best goals against average (1.67).

The break may have been a blessing in disguise for Colorado.  It’s allowed the Avs to get back their leading scorer, Nathan MacKinnon, after he suffered a lower body injury on Jan 31.  MacKinnon has 14 points (2G, 12A) in 10 games, while his linemate Mikko Rantanen leads the team with seven goals (10 points).

Vegas Golden Knights

This should be an interesting goalie matchup, as the two best goalie’s in the league right now, are each starting this game.  Fleury seems to have reclaimed the starters crease from Robin Lehner and revitalized his career.  Among goalies with at least six starts, Fleury’s 1.58 GAA is No. 1 in the league, while his .934 SV is tied for first with Grubauer.  The Golden Knights will need to rely on Fleury a little more as Lehner is out and listed as day-to-day.

The Golden Knights’ offence has been as good as their defence this year.  After Vegas’ 3-1 over the Sharks on Saturday, the Knights have now scored at least three goals in four of their last five games.  Max Pacioretty leads the team with six goals (11 points), while Mark Stone leads the team with 16 points (4G, 12A).

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Golden Knights?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 66
+ / -	Mikko Rantanen 30
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 206
Penalty Mins	Ryan Graves 55
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 30
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 1.95

VEG

Points	Mark Stone 61
+ / -	Shea Theodore 28
Shots	Jonathan Marchessault 176
Penalty Mins	Jonathan Marchessault 39
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 26
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 1.98

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 15
+ / -	Devon Toews 10
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 38
Penalty Mins	Brandon Saad 12
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 6
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 2.61

VEG

Points	William Karlsson 16
+ / -	William Karlsson 10
Shots	Alex Pietrangelo 76
Penalty Mins	Alex Pietrangelo 18
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 9
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 2.04

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Golden Knights Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 66
+ / -	Mikko Rantanen 30
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 206
Penalty Mins	Ryan Graves 55
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 30
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 1.95

VEG

Points	Mark Stone 61
+ / -	Shea Theodore 28
Shots	Jonathan Marchessault 176
Penalty Mins	Jonathan Marchessault 39
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 26
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 1.98

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 15
+ / -	Devon Toews 10
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 38
Penalty Mins	Brandon Saad 12
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 6
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 2.61

VEG

Points	William Karlsson 16
+ / -	William Karlsson 10
Shots	Alex Pietrangelo 76
Penalty Mins	Alex Pietrangelo 18
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 9
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 2.04

Injuries

Colorado

Jayson Megna (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 26 / 05 / 21

Alex Newhook (C)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 23 / 05 / 21

Nazem Kadri (C)

Elig Sat Suspension - 20 / 05 / 21

Conor Timmins (D)

Prob Mon Ankle - 14 / 05 / 21

Nathan MacKinnon (C)

Prob Mon Lower Body - 12 / 05 / 21

Nathan MacKinnon (C)

Prob Mon Undisclosed - 07 / 05 / 21

Devan Dubnyk (G)

Out indefinitely Illness - 03 / 05 / 21

Samuel Girard (D)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 01 / 05 / 21

Ryan Graves (D)

Ques Mon Upper Body - 01 / 05 / 21

Bowen Byram (D)

Ques Fri Head - 27 / 04 / 21

Vegas

Alex Tuch (RW)

Prob Thurs Undisclosed - 24 / 06 / 21

Chandler Stephenson (C)

Ques Tues Upper Body - 16 / 06 / 21

Alec Martinez (D)

Ques Mon Undisclosed - 13 / 06 / 21

Peyton Krebs (C)

Out indefinitely Jaw - 06 / 06 / 21

Alec Martinez (D)

Ques Fri Undisclosed - 04 / 06 / 21

Alex Tuch (RW)

Ques Fri Undisclosed - 04 / 06 / 21

Robin Lehner (G)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 02 / 06 / 21

Ryan Reaves (RW)

Elig Sun Suspension - 31 / 05 / 21

Mattias Janmark (C)

Ques Tues Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 21

Ryan Reaves (RW)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 27 / 05 / 21

Injuries

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jayson Megna (C)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 26 / 05 / 21	2-4	3-3	+ -
Megna has been designated to the COVID-19 protocol list, and officials have yet to provide a timetable for return.
Alex Newhook (C)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 23 / 05 / 21	3-4	4-3	+ -
Newhook is dealing with a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active for Game 1 of the West Division finals.
Nazem Kadri (C)	Elig Sat	Suspension - 20 / 05 / 21	5-4	5-4	+ -
Kadri is serving an eight-game suspension for an illegal check to the head. He is eligible to return for Game 7 of the West Division finals versus the Golden Knights.
Conor Timmins (D)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 14 / 05 / 21	7-4	7-4	+ -
Timmins is nursing an ankle injury, but he is likely to participate in Game 1 of the West Division semifinals against the Blues.
Nathan MacKinnon (C)	Prob Mon	Lower Body - 12 / 05 / 21	8-4	7-5	+ -
MacKinnon is dealing with a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 1 of the West Division semifinals versus the Blues.
Nathan MacKinnon (C)	Prob Mon	Undisclosed - 07 / 05 / 21	8-7	7-8	+ -
Mackinnon has missed the last two games due to an unspecified reason, but he is projected to participate in Monday's battle with the Golden Knights.
Devan Dubnyk (G)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 03 / 05 / 21	8-9	9-8	+ -
Dubnyk has been designated for the COVID-19 protocol list, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Samuel Girard (D)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 01 / 05 / 21	9-10	10-9	+ -
Girard has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury, but it is anticipated that he will return for Wednesday's battle with the Kings.
Ryan Graves (D)	Ques Mon	Upper Body - 01 / 05 / 21	9-10	10-9	+ -
Graves missed the last contest with an upper-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active Monday versus the Sharks.
Bowen Byram (D)	Ques Fri	Head - 27 / 04 / 21	9-11	10-10	+ -
Byram was activated from the injured reserve list with a head injury, and it is unclear if he will be active versus the Blues for Game 3 of the West Division semifinals.

Vegas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alex Tuch (RW)	Prob Thurs	Undisclosed - 24 / 06 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Tuch is bothered by an undefined issue, but he is expected to suit up for Game 6 of the NHL semifinals versus the Canadiens.
Chandler Stephenson (C)	Ques Tues	Upper Body - 16 / 06 / 21	1-4	0-2-3	+ -
Stephenson is tending to an upper-body ailment, leaving his status for Game 5 of the NHL semifinals against the Canadiens clouded.
Alec Martinez (D)	Ques Mon	Undisclosed - 13 / 06 / 21	2-4	1-2-3	+ -
Martinez is dealing with an unspecified issue, and it is unknown if he will dress for Game 1 of the NHL semifinals against the Canadiens.
Peyton Krebs (C)	Out indefinitely	Jaw - 06 / 06 / 21	5-4	2-4-3	+ -
Krebs is out of the lineup with a fractured jaw, and it remains to be seen when he will be available to return.
Alec Martinez (D)	Ques Fri	Undisclosed - 04 / 06 / 21	6-4	2-5-3	+ -
Martinez is tending to a undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will suit up for Game 3 of the West Division finals against the Avalanche.
Alex Tuch (RW)	Ques Fri	Undisclosed - 04 / 06 / 21	6-4	2-5-3	+ -
Tuch is hampered by an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be available to face the Avalanche for Game 3 of the West Division finals.
Robin Lehner (G)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 02 / 06 / 21	6-5	3-5-3	+ -
Lehner is dealing with an undisclosed issue, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 5 of the West Division finals versus the Avalanche.
Ryan Reaves (RW)	Elig Sun	Suspension - 31 / 05 / 21	6-5	3-5-3	+ -
Reaves is serving a two-game suspension for roughing, and he is eligible to return for Game 4 of the West Division finals versus the Avalanche.
Mattias Janmark (C)	Ques Tues	Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 21	6-5	3-5-3	+ -
Janmark is battling an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up against the Avalanche for Game 5 of the West Division finals.
Ryan Reaves (RW)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 27 / 05 / 21	7-7	5-6-3	+ -
Reaves has been added to the COVID-19 protocol list, and it is unclear when he will be available for return.