The Pepsi Center plays host to a Western Conference matchup as the Colorado Avalanche face off against the expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights. The action will get started at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, and it will air live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. 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 outings, 38 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the road team this season, the Knights are 21-16 SU.
Vegas has converted on 21.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it has successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Knights have been sent to the penalty box just 3.2 times per game in the 2017-18 season, 3.0 per game over its past five total, and 3.4 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The teams had to defend opponent power plays just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .930 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (27-14-3) has been the best option in goal for Vegas this season. If Vegas chooses to rest him, however, head coach Gerard Gallant could go with Malcolm Subban (13-5-2), who has a .917 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average this year.
The visiting Golden Knights will be led by Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson. Marchessault (68 points) has tallied 23 goals and 45 assists, and has recorded multiple points 20 times. Karlsson has 39 goals and 27 assists to his credit, and has notched a point in 47 games.
On the other side of the ice, Colorado is 40-34 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 11.5 units this year. 39 of its matches have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just seven have pushed. This year, the teams 25-12 SU as the home team.
The Avalanche have converted on just 21.0 percent of their power play opportunities 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 opponent power plays.
Avalanche players have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five outings. The teams 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 netminder in goal for the Avalanche. Varlamov has 24 wins, 24 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has maintained a .917 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average this year.
The home team offense will be led by Nathan MacKinnon (38 goals, 54 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Seven of Colorado’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 5-2 overall in those games.
- Power-play chances could have a key role in this one. The Golden Knights are 17-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 36-17 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Avalanche are 17-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 25-23 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Vegas (3-2 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Colorado has only participated in two shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
- Vegas may have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The teams an impressive 19-13 in games decided by one goal, while Colorado is 10-13 in such games.
- The under has hit in three of Vegas last five games.
- Colorado skaters have averaged 6.0 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 6.2 giveaways per game (ranked 4th in the NHL).
- Vegas has averaged 7.0 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 15th).
