Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights Game 3 odds, picks and prediction
The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights play Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round series Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena. Below, we analyze the Avalanche-Golden Knights odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Avalanche snagged a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 2 Wednesday, taking advantage of Golden Knights RW Reilly Smith's slash early in the extra session. Avs RW Mikko Rantanen made the Knights pay with the game-winning tally as Colorado took a 2-0 series lead.
The Golden Knights had a much better showing in Game 2 than the opener, but a 3-2 overtime loss or a 7-1 blowout in Game 1 each count the same. They're in an 2-0 hole heading to "The Fortress" in desperate need of a shot of energy from their home fans.
Avalanche at Golden Knights: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:01 a.m. ET.
- Money line : Avalanche -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Golden Knights +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS : Avalanche -1.5 (+225) | Golden Knights +1.5 (-275)
- Over/Under : 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Avalanche at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies
Philipp Grubauer (30-9-1, 1.95 GAA, .922 SV%, 7 SO) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (26-10-0, 1.98 GAA, .928 SV%, 6 SO). Stats from regular season.
Grubauer won the battle of Vezina Trophy finalists in Game 2, stopping 39 of the 41 Vegas shots. He has posted six straight wins to open the playoffs, something no other goaltender in Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise history has ever accomplished.
Fleury was rested in Game 1 and it was a disaster as G Robin Lehner allowed seven goals. In Game 2, Vezina finalist Fleury came up short, but he was very sharp and should be even better on home ice.
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Avalanche at Golden Knights: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Golden Knights 4, Avalanche 3
Money line (ML)
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (+100) are the play on home ice, especially at even money. Yes, they lost their most recent home meeting with the Avalanche by a 2-1 count May 10, but Lehner was in net for that one.
In the most recent home game with Fleury between the pipes April 28, Vegas won 5-2, beating G Devan Dubnyk, who was in net for Colorado. Still, Fleury kept the Avs' high-octane offense at bay. Earlier in the season, Fleury won a 3-2 overtime game in Denver March 27, and also claimed a 1-0 Valentine's Day shutout against Grubauer and the Avalanche in Las Vegas.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Golden Knights +1.5 (-275) are just too costly if you're looking for some insurance rather than playing them straight up on home ice. You cannot justify risking nearly three times your return, or pennies on the dollar.
AVOID.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 5.5 (+100) is the play in Game 3. We saw an offensive explosion from Colorado in Game 1. That likely won't happen here. We had a more defensive battle in Game 2, and I expect a slight increase in offense with the shift to Vegas. No one will mistake this Game 3 for an All-Star Game with ridiculously high scores, but it won't take much to get six tallies on the board.
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