3:07 pm
March 27

Golden Knights @ Avalanche

Who will WIN this matchup?

Vegas Golden Knights (22-8-1)

@ Colorado Avalanche (21-8-3)

 

Starting Goalies:

Robin Lehner (VGK): Unconfirmed

Philipp Grubauer (COL): Unconfirmed

 

Current odds:

Vegas Golden Knights: (+160)

Colorado Avalanche: (-180)

 

• Vegas and Colorado viewed their two-game set in Denver as a prelude to a possible postseason clash later in the spring. After one game, it’s the Avalanche who look playoff ready and have the Golden Knights looking for answers. Colorado dominated the first matchup, winning 5-1 Thursday night with a big second period that turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead. While players talk about moving on after a loss, it won’t be so easy for Vegas.

• The teams meet again Saturday afternoon to wrap up the two-game set and sixth game of eight overall between them. The season series has been even, with Colorado winning three of the first five.

• The Avalanche have been outclassing their opponents lately, winning eight of their last nine and earning at least a point in all nine of those games. The games with Vegas come a week after another key matchup against Minnesota, and Colorado won both of those games by a combined score of 11-1.

• Like it did during the previous eight games, the Avalanche enjoyed a shots-on-goal advantage and used it to overwhelm the Golden Knights. During its streak, Colorado has been scoring enough without sacrificing on the defensive end.

• Colorado tied Vegas in points with the win, but the Golden Knights have played one less game. The Golden Knights can head out of town atop the West Division with a win Saturday.

• The Golden Knights will need to figure out how to get more shots on goaltender Philipp Grubauer. He has been in net for the last eight wins — including one against Anaheim when he took over after the first period — and has made an average of just 21.3 saves in those games. By contrast, his teammates have put an average of 40.1 shots on opposing goalies in those games.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Colorado Avalanche
Previous Pick
Next Pick