9:10 pm
June 8

Golden Knights @ Avalanche

Who will WIN this matchup?

Vegas Golden Knights (40-14-2)

@ Colorado Avalanche (39-13-4)

 

Starting Goalies:

Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK): Unconfirmed

Philipp Grubauer (COL):  Unconfirmed

 

Current odds:

Vegas Golden Knights: (+120)

Colorado Avalanche: (-140)

 

The Vegas Golden Knights, who were minutes away from falling three games down in their second-round series with the Colorado Avalanche, now have a chance to take control of the series Tuesday night. Vegas had trailed 2-1 late in Game 3 on Friday night, but in a span of 45 seconds the Knights had grabbed a 3-2 lead and held on for the victory. They followed that with a dominant 5-1 win in Game 4, and they have all the momentum in this series heading into the pivotal Game 5 in Denver.

With the series at 2-2, a third consecutive victory would give the Knights a chance to close out the series at home on Thursday night, and they’re feeling confident heading to Denver, although the Avalanche have been much tougher playing at home.

The Knights have controlled much of the last two games and have left the Avalanche searching for answers. Colorado coach Jared Bednar criticized his team after the Game 3 loss, and the Avalanche opened Game 4 with some fire. They took a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game, but once Vegas tied it the ice tilted in the Knights’ favor.

Ball Arena has been good to the Avalanche. They went 16-0-1 at home to end the regular season and have won their first four playoff games there, including a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 against Vegas. Colorado went an NHL-best 22-4-2 at home during the regular season, but two of those six losses came against Vegas. The Knights were the last team to win there, beating the Avalanche 3-2 in overtime on March 27.

One reason Vegas has grabbed momentum in the series is the defense has shut down Colorado’s top line. After the trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog combined for five goals and three assists in Game 1 they have combined for two goals and two assists in the last three games. The line was shut out in Game 4, and if the Avalanche hope to advance they’ll need more from them — and other lines — Tuesday night.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Colorado Avalanche