Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and the Colorado Avalanche will do battle against Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in a Western Conference showdown. The action gets started at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 27, and you’ll be able to watch the game live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
The Golden Knights (-135) are tabbed as the favorites over the Avalanche (+115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-115 over, -105 under).
Vegas is 20-19 straight-up (SU) and has recorded -6.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division so far this season, is a big slide from what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (51-31). Through 39 regular season matches, 19 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 11-6 SU at home this year.
The Golden Knights have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 25.3 saves per game with a .906 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (20-14-4) has been the top goalkeeper for Vegas this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to the winless Malcolm Subban (0-6-6 record, .881 save percentage, 3.48 goals against average).
Colorado has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far and is currently 19-18 straight up (SU). 20 of its matches have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the visiting team this season, the Avalanche are 11-10 SU.
The Avalanche have converted on 27.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all penalties.
Semyon Varlamov (28.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov has 11 wins, 12 losses, and three OT losses to his credit, while registering a .913 save percentage and 2.79 goals against average this year.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Seven of Colorado’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-5 in those games.
- Penalties and power plays may be critical tonight. The Avalanche are 7-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-9 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Golden Knights are 10-6 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 16-14 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their past five games.
- One of the best at taking care of the puck, Colorado is ranked second this season with just 6.2 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended down lately, however, as the team’s averaged 4.9 giveaways over its last 10 games and 5.0 giveaways over its last five.
- Vegas is ranked 13th this season with 9.4 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the team’s averaged 7.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 8.4 giveaways over its last five.
- The Knights this season have tallied the fifth-most hits in the NHL (27.1 per game).
