Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction 5/20/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche meet Wednesday in NHL Game 1 at the Ball Arena. Here’s a Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche Prediction. This article will include a Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche Pick.

Vegas Golden Knights Betting Preview

The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Ducks in 6 games and are in the conference finals for a fourth season. The Golden Knights have won 7 of their last 9 games.

The Vegas Golden Knights are averaging 3.67 goals per game and are scoring on 25.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Pavel Dorofeyev leads Vegas with 9 goals, Jack Eichel has 14 assists and Mitch Marner has 29 shots on goal. Defensively, the Vegas Golden Knights are allowing 2.58 goals per game and are killing 86.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Carter Hart has given up 30 goals on 351 shots faced.

Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview

The Colorado Avalanche beat the Wild in 5 games and will play for the first time in a week. The Avalanche has won 8 of their last 9 games.

The Colorado Avalanche is averaging 4.11 goals per game and is scoring on 25 percent of their power play opportunities. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 7 goals, Martin Necas has 10 assists, and Nazem Kadri has 25 shots on goal. Defensively, the Colorado Avalanche are allowing 2.56 goals per game and are killing 79.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Scott Wedgewood has given up 16 goals on 187 shots faced, and Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 6 goals on 47 shots.

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Avalanche has won 14 of their last 15 home games when playing with a rest advantage.
• The Golden Knights have lost each of their last seven games as road underdogs following a road win.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in eight of their last nine games as a favorite when playing with a rest advantage.
• The Golden Knights have failed to cover the puck line in 20 of their last 25 games following a road win.
• The Golden Knights have lost the second period in four of their last five games at Ball Arena when trailing after the first period.

Why the Vegas Golden Knights will win

• The Golden Knights have won seven of their last eight night Game 1s of a playoff series.
• The Avalanche has lost four of their last six games as home favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Golden Knights have covered the puck line in each of their last 10 games as an away underdog when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Avalanche has failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight games at Ball Arena following a home win.
• The Avalanche has lost the first period in each of their last three games.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the last nine night games between the Golden Knights and Avalanche at Ball Arena has gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Six of the Golden Knights’ last seven night games against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Golden Knights’ last nine games against Western Conference opponents.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Avalanche’s last three home games.

Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts

• Nathan MacKinnon has scored at least one goal in each of the Avalanche’s last six playoff games.
• Nathan MacKinnon has recorded at least one assist in each of the Avalanche’s last 13 night games, Game 1s of a playoff series.
• Nathan MacKinnon ranks 1st in the league for multi-goal games (14) this season.

Vegas Golden Knights Player Prop Facts

• Brett Howden has scored at least one goal in each of the Golden Knights’ last five road playoff games.
• Mitch Marner has recorded at least one assist in seven of his last eight playoff appearances with his team as a road underdog.
• Ben Hutton has recorded two points against the Avalanche this season—equal to the most against any opponent.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (84.62%).
• The Colorado Avalanche is one of only three teams in the league to rank top 5 for both goals for and goals against per game this season.
• The Vegas Golden Knights rank 1st in the league for Period 3 goals scored per game this season (1.32).
• The Vegas Golden Knights rank 2nd in the league for shots against per game this season (24.4).

Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche Injury Report

The Golden Knights will be without Jeremy Lauzon. Mark Stone is questionable with a lower-body injury.

Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski are questionable for the Avs with upper-body injuries.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction

The Avalanche are going to be favored, especially at home, as they’ve been the best team in the league from the start. They deserve respect. Vegas can also be hit or miss. With that said, we’re getting 1.5 times our money with the Golden Knights. Vegas has played some of its best hockey on the road this season and has four road playoff wins. Also, 5 of the last 7 games between the Golden Knights and Avs have seen overtime, so these teams know each other well and have endless tight games. Sure, the Avs have won 4 of the last 5 meetings, but Vegas has hung in there and should be confident because of it. I’ll take a shot in the dark with the plus money.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Vegas Golden Knights