Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Prediction, NHL Odds
This heavyweight Western Conference battle could very well end up as a preview of the conference final in the playoffs; Colorado’s +375 odds to win the Western Conference is shorter than any other team, and Vegas is right behind at +425. And the proof’s in the pudding thus far — through 10 games this season the Avalanche and Golden Knights are the only NHL teams with a lone regulation loss. And entering Friday, Eichel (19) and MacKinnon (17) sit at the top of the NHL points leaders.
Puck drop at T-Mobile Arena goes at 4:00 p.n. EDT with the oddsmakers listing this game as a pick’em, and the over-under at six on the NHL odds.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights NHL Betting Odds
Colorado’s 3.73 goals per game ranks second in the NHL this season while Vegas is right behind with 3.7 per contest. But yet both teams have not seen the majority of their games hit the over. And that holds true when they go head-to-head as the under is 9-3 in the last 12 Colorado–Vegas meetings. Vegas has won six of their last nine times hosting Colorado.
The Golden Knights have started 3-0-1 on home ice this season with their last two wins coming via a combined 10-2 score. And although Colorado has just one win in their last five games, three of the four losses came in overtime. The Avs are 0-4 in extra time this season, and Vegas is 1-3. It’s hard to fathom these offences not dominating in 3-on-3 action, but it also means there could be some recent value taking a tie in the three-way result on Friday.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado needed a win badly and got exactly that the last time they took the ice, doubling up New Jersey 8-4 on Tuesday. Victor Olofsson led all skaters with five points in the win, scoring his first NHL hat-trick in the process. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists while Cale Makar was active with four assists himself. MacKinnon’s nine goals ranks first on the team yet again, but second is a freshly-signed Martin Necas with seven. Necas signed an eight-year, $92-million dollar extension on Thursday meaning he and MacKinnon are primed to linemates for a very long time, and that’s very dangerous news for the rest of the NHL.
Friday’s the first of a back-to-back on the road for the Avs, but starter Scott Wedgewood is expected to get the nod in net against Vegas. Wedgewood is 6-1-2 this season but with an .899 save percentage.
Vegas Golden Knights
The addition of Mitch Marner to this Vegas forward group has made them lethal yet again. Marner is one five Golden Knights skaters at a point a game pace through 10 outings and he has six multi-point games already this season. Jack Eichel’s been even more dangerous up front, and the NHL scoring leader is coming off a two-goal, one-assist night against Carolina on Tuesday. The 6-3 win snapped a two-skid for Vegas and wrapped up a three-game road trip out east. Friday’s the first of six straight at home for the Golden Knights.
Akira Schmid has now started the majority of the games in net for Vegas this season, taking over for an injured Adin Hill who remains week-to-week. Schmid is 5-1 this season with an .892 save percentage and should be between the pipes on Friday for a big test against a high-flying Avalanche team.
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