After the longest game in NHL history on Saturday in Lake Tahoe, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche meet up for a rematch on Monday night, this time on more familiar ground, er ice, at Ball Arena in Denver.
This should be an exciting battle between two of the best teams in the league with the Avs and Knights tied atop the Stanley Cup futures board, according to FanDuel.
We bring you our NHL betting breakdown with our best free Golden Knights vs. Avalanche picks and predictions for Monday, February 22, with the puck dropping at 9 p.m. ET.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche betting preview
Injuries
Golden Knights: Robin Lehner G (Out), Brayden McNabb D (Out), Tomas Nosek LW (Out).
Avalanche: Erik Johnson D (Out), Pavel Francouz G (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Golden Knights are 9-23 in their last 32 games as a road underdog. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Avalanche.
NHL sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonThese two Stanley Cup favorites are playing the last of four games in a row against each other, with Colorado taking two of the first three. The Avalanche opened -120 at PointsBet USA, touched -140 twice and spent all afternoon at -135, where the moneyline is as of 6 p.m. ET. "Sixty percent of tickets and handle backing Colorado," PointsBet's Patrick Eichner said. The total is pinned to 5.5, with the Under opening -125 and peaking at -135 Sunday night, but the price is now a flat -110. "Bets are split 50/50, but about 65 percent of handle backing the Over," Eichner said. The Under hit in the first three games of this unusual scheduling stretch.
Check out the full line movement for this gameMoneyline pick
The game between these two elite squads on Saturday was certainly one to remember. After Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the first period the game was delayed by eight hours due to melting ice on the outdoor surface. The contest eventually restarted just after midnight ET and while the Knights soon tied it up, the Avs regained the lead and held on for a 3-2 victory.
That was the third consecutive matchup between these squads and while the Knights took the first game in a 1-0 nail-biter at home, the Avs have won the last two by an identical 3-2 scoreline.
While it might seem like Vegas is due for a bounce-back win, all the analysis points in the opposite direction.
As good as the Knights are, the Avs have been slightly better across the board. Colorado scores more goals (3.14 GPG to 3 GPG), wins more faceoffs (51.8 percent to 49.5 percent), is better on the powerplay (23.3 percent to 18.4 percent) and has the better Fenwick For percentage (54.16 to 52.26). The Avs also have the superior high-end talent, with Nathan MacKinnon and their top line dominating play on Saturday.
The Knights aren't underdogs very often but when they are they usually don't beat the books, going just 9-23 in their last 32 games as a road dog. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are 5-0 in their previous five contests as a home favorite. Take the home side.
PREDICTION: Colorado (-135)
Over/Under pick
While both these teams have plenty of firepower, it's between the pipes where they have really excelled. Both Marc Andre-Fleury and Philipp Grubauer have played very well in nets for their respective teams and while both could use a rest, they likely won't get that luxury tonight with Robin Lehner and Pavel Francouz still injured.
Fleury is 7-3 with a 1.71 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage this season, while Grubauer has gone 9-3 with a 1.67 GAA and a save percentage of .936.
The Avalanche have allowed the fewest goals per game in the league at 2.07, while limiting foes to the third-fewest shots on goal. They also kill penalties at a league-best success rate of 89.6 percent. The Knights defense ranks second-best in the league in both goals (2.2) and shots (26.5) allowed per game and they also have a terrific penalty kill unit, ranking third in the league with a rate of 87 percent.
The Under has cashed in all three meetings between these teams this season. That makes the Golden Knights 12-3-1 to the Under in their previous 16 games against teams with a winning record. Expect another tense, defensive game with a playoff atmosphere and back the Under 5.5.
PREDICTION: Under 5.5 (-115)
Golden Knights vs Avalanche betting card
- Moneyline Colorado (-135)
- Under 5.5 (-115)
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