Two teams that are firmly in the playoff hunt, the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights face off at T-Mobile Arena. The opening face-off takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, December 23, and you can view this Western Conference matchup live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Colorado is 22-14 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 7.2 units this year. Through 36 regular season matches, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while another 17 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Avs are 12-7 SU as an away team in 2019-20.
Colorado has converted on 18.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it has successfully killed off 79.1 percent of its penalties.
Colorado, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall during the 2019-20 season, and 2.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Philipp Grubauer (11-10-2) has been the top option in goal for Colorado this season. If Colorado decides to rest him, however, they could turn to Pavel Francouz (11-4-1 record, .934 save percentage, 2.16 goals against average).
The visiting Avalanche will be led by Nathan MacKinnon and Joonas Donskoi. MacKinnon has 53 points via 21 goals and 32 assists, and has recorded two or more points 15 times. Donskoi has 13 goals and 15 assists to his creditand has notched at least one point in 14 games.
On the other side of the ice, Vegas is 19-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 19 of its outings have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 10-9 SU at home this season.
Vegas has converted on 22.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vegas skaters have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Marc-Andre Fleury has denied 27.5 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for Vegas. Fleury has 14 wins, 11 losses, and three OT losses to his name and has registered a .915 save percentage and 2.63 goals against average this year.
The Knights offense will be led by Max Pacioretty (15 goals, 21 assists).
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Colorado has managed 29.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Vegas is averaging 37.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- The Avalanche are 12-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-7 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- Vegas is ranked 1st in the NHL this season with 9.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as it has managed 8.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Colorado is ranked 10th overall with 8.3 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as the team has created 7.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.4 takeaways over its last five.
