The Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights collide at the Pepsi Center in a Western Conference tilt. It’s the second time these teams have met in the regular season. The puck drops at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, and it can be caught live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Vegas is 47-27 straight up (SU) and has netted 17.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 74 regular season contests, 38 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Golden Knights team is 21-16 SU on the road.
Vegas has converted on 21.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of its penalties.
Vegas, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box just 3.2 times per game this season, 3.0 per game over its last five games total, and 3.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .930 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (27-14-3) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this year. If it decides to rest him, however, Vegas might turn to Malcolm Subban (13-5-2 record, .917 save percentage, 2.51 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Golden Knights. Marchessault (68 points) is up to 23 goals and 45 assists, and has recorded two or more points 20 times. Karlsson has 39 goals and 27 assists to his creditand has notched a point in 47 games.
On the other side of the rink, Colorado is 40-34 straight up (SU) and has netted 11.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 74 regular season contests, 39 of its games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just seven have pushed. It’s 25-12 SU at home this season.
Colorado has converted on 21.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.9 percent of all penalties.
Colorado players have been penalized 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Semyon Varlamov (28.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Colorado. Varlamov has 24 wins, 24 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 2.77 goals against average and a .917 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Nathan MacKinnon (38 goals, 54 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Vegas (3-2 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Colorado has participated in only a couple of shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
The total has gone under in three of Vegas’ last five outings.
Seven of Colorado’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 5-2 overall in those games.
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