T-Mobile Arena plays host to a Western Conference matchup as the expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights square off against the Colorado Avalanche. The match gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, March 26, and it can be seen live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (+155) is entering this one as the underdog to Vegas (-175), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 under, +100 over.
Vegas is 47-28 straight up (SU) and has netted 16.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Among its 75 games this season, 38 have gone over the total, while 35 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 26-11 SU at home.
The Golden Knights have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all penalties.
The Golden Knights, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, 3.4 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.0 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to defend opposition power plays for just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Sporting a .930 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (27-15-4) has been the best goalkeeper for Vegas this season. If the Knights, however, decide to rest him, the team may go with Malcolm Subban (13-5-5 record, .917 save percentage, 2.51 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron will each look to continue their strong seasons for the Golden Knights. Marchessault (69 points) has produced 24 goals and 45 assists and has recorded multiple points 20 times this year. Perron has 16 goals and 50 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 46 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Colorado is 41-34 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 12.5 units this season. A total of 39 of its contests have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just seven have pushed. As the visiting team, the Avalanche are 15-22 SU.
The Avalanche have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Colorado’s players have been penalized 4.0 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their past five games. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (28.8 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for Colorado. Varlamov has 25 wins, 24 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, while registering a .919 save percentage and 2.73 goals against average this year.
Nathan MacKinnon (38 goals, 54 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the visiting Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Colorado’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
Penalties and power plays could be even more critical than usual in this one. The Avalanche are 18-13 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 26-23 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Golden Knights are 17-11 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 36-18 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Two of Vegas’ last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this year.
Vegas may hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 19-14 in games decided by one goal, while Colorado is 11-13 in such games.
The under has hit in four of Vegas’ last five outings.
Vegas has averaged 11.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.3 giveaways per game (ranked 14th overall).
Colorado skaters have averaged 4.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 6.2 giveaways per game (the third-fewest in the NHL).
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