The play of Game 2 was almost a complete opposite of Game 1, but the result was the same as the Colorado Avalanche took a 2-0 lead over the Vegas Golden Knights in their second round best-of-seven series, with a 3-2 overtime win on Wednesday.  After the Avs crushed the Golden Knights 7-1 in Game 1, it was Vegas’ turn to take it to Colorado in Game 2.  The Golden Knights outshot the Avalanche 41-25 on Wednesday, but struggled to get anything past Vezina nominee Philipp Grubauer.

Game 3 is nearly a pick’em, with Colorado coming in as a slight -115 favourite to win on the NHL odds.  The total is set at 5.5.

Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Stanley Cup Odds

The Avalanche have won all six of their playoff games this year and hit the Over in four of them.  Their overall winning streak has now hit 10 games and they’ve won five straight on the road.  Colorado has jumped to a massive -702 favourite to win the series and at +136, they’re currently the favourites for the Stanley Cup.

Despite a Game 7 win in the first round against Minnesota, Vegas has stumbled lately and dropped four of their last five games.  They’ll be hoping home ice will help them turn things around, as they’ve won nine of their last 12 at T-Mobile Arena.  If the Golden Knights can come back in this series, it will be at good value.  They’re now +443 underdogs in the series and they sit at +1300 to win the Cup.

Colorado Avalanche

Game 2 was a statement win for the Avalanche.  Through three periods their top three playoff scorers, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar, were all held without a point and Colorado still found a way to win.  That speaks to this team’s depth.  Brandon Saad opened the scoring in the first period for his fifth straight game with a goal, while Tyson Jost also found the back of the net.  Grubauer made a playoff career-high of 39 saves and was the No. 1 star.

The Avs’ stars came to play in OT, with Rantanen scoring the winner on the power play just over two minutes into the extra period.  MacKinnon and Makar picked up the assists.  All three players have picked up points in every game this postseason.  Rantanen’s playoff point streak is now at 16 games, dating back to last year.

Defenceman Ryan Graves doesn’t seem to be feeling any major ill effects after leaving Game 1 early with an undisclosed injury.  Graves recorded an assists in Game 2 and logged over 15 minutes of ice time.  After Nazem Kadri‘s appeal of the eight-game suspension he received in the first round was denied by commissioner Gary Bettman, he’ll have a final, binding appeal with a neutral arbitrator on Friday.  Kadri has already served four of the eight games.

Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series are 334-51 (.867) to win an NHL playoff series, including 4-0 in this year’s first round.

Vegas Golden Knights

It was a much better effort from Vegas in Game 2, but the same result.  The Golden Knights looked like the better team for most of the night, but couldn’t close out the game.  Vegas outshot the Avalanche by almost 20 in the game, including a 16-6 advantage in the second period alone.  Alec Martinez and Reilly Smith had the goals.  The other Vezina nominee playing in this series, Marc-Andre Fleury, stopped 22 of 25 shots faced.

Mattias Janmark (undisclosed injury) didn’t play Game 2 and is questionable for Game 3.  Janmark was forced to leave Game 1 after taking a hit from Avalanche defenceman Graves, which led to Ryan Reaves‘ later retaliation and suspension.  Reaves was suspended two games and is eligible to return for Game 4.  Dylan Sikura (NHL playoff debut) replaced Janmark in the lineup, while Keegan Kolesar filled in for Reaves.

NHL Playoff 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.