Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche Picks and Prediction for Wednesday May 20 2026
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The Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche begin the Western Conference Final on Wednesday May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET with coverage on ESPN. Vegas enters the matchup after finishing off Anaheim in the second round, while Colorado advanced by eliminating Minnesota in five games. Colorado enters the opener listed at -192 on the moneyline while Vegas is listed at +160. The total for the game is set at 6.5 goals. Be sure to keep up on all the NHL action with our free NHL picks.
Previous Game Recap
The Vegas Golden Knights closed out their second-round series with a dominant 5-1 road victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6. Vegas jumped out quickly with three goals in the opening period and never allowed Anaheim to fully recover. The Golden Knights added two more goals in the third period to comfortably secure the series-clinching victory. The game showed Vegas controlling the pace early while receiving strong goaltending throughout the night.
Vegas received major contributions from several key offensive players during the victory. Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice and finished with a plus-three rating while also recording three shots on goal. Mitch Marner added a goal and an assist, while Brett Howden also found the net and added a plus-two performance. Shea Theodore chipped in with a goal and an assist from the blue line. Carter Hart was excellent in goal for Vegas, stopping 31 of the 32 shots he faced and finishing with a .969 save percentage.
Colorado advanced to the conference final after defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 of their series. The Avalanche overcame an early deficit after Minnesota scored three first-period goals. Colorado slowly worked back into the game before eventually winning in overtime. Nathan MacKinnon scored once on nine shots while Martin Necas contributed two assists. Jack Drury added a goal, and Parker Kelly scored while also recording an assist. Brett Kulak delivered a goal and an assist from the defensive unit. Mackenzie Blackwood started the game before Scott Wedgewood entered in relief and stopped all seven shots he faced during his time in net.
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Vegas Looks to Carry Momentum Into Denver
The Golden Knights enter this series with a 39-26-17 overall record and a 19-14-8 road record. Vegas recently won over Anaheim by scores of 5-1, 3-2 in overtime, and 6-2 during the second-round series. The Golden Knights also recently lost to Anaheim by scores of 4-3 and 3-1 before finishing the series strongly. Closing out the Ducks on the road gives Vegas momentum heading into a difficult matchup against Colorado.
Vegas averaged 3.22 goals per game this season while allowing 2.95 goals against per contest. The Golden Knights generated 29.0 shots per game while allowing only 24.4 shots against. Their power play converted 24.6 percent of opportunities with 58 power-play goals scored. Defensively, Vegas finished with an 81.4 percent penalty kill while also recording six shorthanded goals and allowing zero shorthanded goals against.
One important strength for Vegas entering this series is the team’s special teams production. The Golden Knights posted the stronger power-play percentage compared to Colorado and also limited opposing shot opportunities effectively during the regular season. Vegas allowed only 24.4 shots against per game, which is the better defensive shot total between these teams. That defensive structure combined with recent offensive production gives the Golden Knights a chance to compete early in the series.
Avalanche Continue Dominant Season Into West Final
Colorado enters Game 1 with a 55-16-11 overall record and a dominant 26-9-6 home record. The Avalanche recently won over Minnesota by scores of 4-3 in overtime, 5-2, 5-2, and 9-6 during the second-round series. Colorado recently lost to Minnesota 5-1 before responding with two straight victories to close the matchup. Returning home for the conference final gives the Avalanche another opportunity to build on one of the strongest seasons in the league.
The Avalanche averaged 3.63 goals per game while allowing only 2.40 goals against per contest this season. Colorado produced 33.7 shots per game offensively while allowing 26.1 shots against. Their power play scored 45 goals with a 17.1 percent conversion rate, while the penalty kill operated at 84.6 percent. Colorado also allowed zero shorthanded goals against during the regular season.
Colorado’s biggest advantage entering this matchup is its offensive consistency combined with strong goaltending numbers. The Avalanche scored more goals per game than Vegas and also allowed fewer goals defensively. Scott Wedgewood posted a 2.02 goals-against average with a .921 save percentage during the season, while Mackenzie Blackwood added a 2.51 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. Colorado also averaged significantly more shots per game offensively, which could create pressure throughout the series.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche Picks and Prediction
Side Pick:
- Colorado Avalanche Moneyline
Colorado enters this matchup with the stronger overall record, the stronger home record, and better offensive production during the season. The Avalanche averaged 3.63 goals per game while allowing only 2.40 goals against, showing balance on both sides of the ice. Colorado also recently won four of five games against Minnesota to close out the previous round. While Vegas has momentum after eliminating Anaheim, Colorado’s home success and offensive pressure provide the edge entering Game 1.
Total Pick:
- Under 6.5 Goals
Both teams feature strong defensive numbers and quality goaltending entering this series opener. Vegas allowed only 2.95 goals against per game while Colorado allowed just 2.40. The Golden Knights also limited opponents to only 24.4 shots against per contest during the regular season. With the pressure of a conference final opener and two teams capable of strong defensive play, this matchup could stay slightly below the total.
Final Score Prediction: Colorado Avalanche 4 – Vegas Golden Knights 2
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