What better way to kick off a Friday Halloween than a matchup between two Western Conference juggernauts?
The Colorado Avalanche (6-1-4) and Vegas Golden Knights (6-1-3) meet tonight. Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m. EDT at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Avalanche are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (+100 / -120). The Avalanche are a -120 favorite to win outright, while the Golden Knights are +100 to pull off the upset.
So, as we prepare for tonight's festivities, let's get into my Avalanche vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Odds, Pick
| Avalanche Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +205 | 6.5 100o / -120u | -120 |
| Golden Knights Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -260 | 6.5 100o / -120u | +100 |
- Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Spread: Avalanche -1.5 (+205), Golden Knights +1.5 (-260)
- Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Over/Under: 6.5 (+100o / -120u)
- Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Moneyline: Avalanche -120, Golden Knights +100
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Preview
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche have suffered a loss five times, and four of them have either been in overtime or in a shootout.
In fact, prior to smoking the Devils on Tuesday, the Avs lost four in a row, with three of those losses coming in extra time.
Everything that we’ve seen from Colorado has been overwhelmingly positive. The 5-on-5 play has been elite, ranking in the top 10 in expected goals and xGA/60. Although the power play has been slightly underwhelming, the penalty kill is one of the best in the league.
Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen all average a point per game or more, and Victor Olofsson is just under a point per game.
The one part of Colorado’s game that has caused these overtime losses has been goaltending. Mackenzie Blackwood has been out to start the season, and Scott Wedgewood has all but proved he is nothing more than a backup – and that’s OK! Because Wedgewood can still play, just not for an extended period.
However, Blackwood has said he feels great, and I think there’s a chance we'll see him today.
Last season, he was exceptional in his first year with Colorado, posting a .913 SV%.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is fresh off a three-game road trip, during which it fell to the two Florida teams, but then came out with a 6-3 win against Carolina.
So nothing like a little home cooking where the Knights are 3-0-1, right?
The Mitch Marner pickup has paid off dividends, with him and Jack Eichel each averaging well over a point per game. Eichel also currently leads the league in scoring, and not only that, but Pavel Dorofeyev leads the league in goals with nine.
Vegas’ 5-on-5 play has really clicked well, playing to a solid 52.25 xGF% on the offensive end and ranking fourth in even-strength defense.
Not only that, its special teams have been solid, scoring on the power play at a top-10 rank, and while the power play could be better, it’s not something I would be concerned about.
Goaltending is where the biggest concern lies.
Adin Hill and Akira Schmid have been less than stellar, both posting a sub-.900 SV% with a GSAx both in the negatives. Hill, though, is out with a lower-body injury, so it’ll either be Schmid or Carl Lindbom who assumes the net.
Lindbom has only had one career start, and it was in an overtime loss to the Lightning, but for the most part, it didn’t seem like the lights were too bright for him, stopping 26 out of 28 shots.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Prediction
It’s always fun when two powerhouses go at it. Marner and Eichel against MacKinnon and Necas.
But in the end, I think that with Blackwood returning to Colorado, this game will be more in favor of the Avalanche.
There’s going to be a whole lot of star power in this matchup, but Colorado has been exceptional on the road.
Let’s ride with the Avalanche in the desert.
Pick: Avalanche ML
