Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Prediction, NHL Lake Tahoe Odds
The NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe weekend series kicks off on Saturday with the third straight meeting between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas took down Colorado 1-0 on Sunday in the Avs’ first game back after a two week COVID-19 layoff, but Colorado comes into this game off a 3-2 win over the Golden Knights on Tuesday.
These teams are evenly matched and oddsmakers know it. The Avalanche are slim -115 favourites to win on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5.
Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Betting Analysis
In the last 10 meetings between these teams, Colorado has the slight edge with six wins. Four of the last six games have hit the Over.
Vegas has been relying more on a solid defensive structure and world-class goaltending rather than scoring to win. Despite winning four of their last six games, the Golden Knights only managed to hit the Over twice in those games. They’re 8-6 O/U this season, hitting the Over in seven of 11 homes game and one of three road games. Vegas is 6-8 against the spread overall. They have covered five times at home and once on the road.
The Avalanche are in a similar situation as Vegas when it comes to scoring. Colorado has won six of their last nine games, but have only hit the Over in three of those games. They are 5-8 O/U this season, hitting the Over twice at home and three times on the road. The Avs are 5-8 ATS. They have covered three times at home and twice on the road.
Vegas Golden Knights
The goalie who started the Golden Knights’ first regular season game, first playoff game and first Stanley Cup Final game will also get the start in their first outdoor game. Marc-Andre Fleury has turned back the clock and is having the best season of his career. Among goalies with at least six games played, Fleury leads the NHL with a 1.56 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. Fleury, who has started five straight games, has allowed just three goals on 55 shots in two games against Colorado on Sunday and Tuesday. Fleury will be looking for his first outdoor win after a 3-1 loss to Washington in the 2011 Winter Classic and a 5-1 loss to Chicago in the 2014 Stadium Series.
This will be the third of four straight games between these teams. Vegas had a 1-0 win over the Avs on Sunday. Max Pacioretty had the lone goal, while Fleury had a 30-save shutout. Pacioretty scored against Colorado again on Tuesday, but didn’t get the same result for his team. The Golden Knights dropped the game 3-2. Jonathan Marchessault had the other Vegas goal. Fleury made 22 saves on 25 shots.
Colorado Avalanche
The only other goalie in the league who is up to Fleury’s stature this season will be facing him in Lake Tahoe. Grubauer has a nearly identical .936 SV as Fleury and slightly lower 1.64 GAA. Both numbers put him ahead of every goalie in the NHL other than Fleury. Colorado outshot Vegas 55-53 over the last two games, but they trail 120-112 in total shot attempts in those games. Brandon Saad and Nathan MacKinnon each had a goal in Colorado’s 3-2 win on Tuesday, while Nazem Kadri scored the winner with under a minute to play in regulation.
The Avs are getting a huge boost to their lineup just in time for their Lake Tahoe trip. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog will play his first game since Feb. 2. Landeskog, who was the final Avalanche player removed from COVID-19 protocol, has eight points (3G, 5A) in 11 games this season. Defenceman Cale Makar is listed as a game-time decision after missing the past two games against Vegas with an upper-body injury. Makar has 12 points (1G, 11A) in 12 games.
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