Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction 5/22/26 NHL Picks Today

The Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche meet Friday in NHL action from the Ball Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche prediction.

Vegas Golden Knights Recap

The Vegas Golden Knights come into this game looking to build on their 4-2 win over the Avalanche from game one last time out to draw first blood in the series.

Golden Knights Looking For Commanding 2-0 Lead

Jack Eichel leads Vegas with 90 points coming on 27 goals and 63 assists. Mitch Marner has 80 points with 24 goals and 56 assists while Pavel Dorofeyev has 64 points with 37 goals and Ivan Barbashev has 61 points with 23 goals and 38 assists. Tomas Hertl’s added 58 points with 24 goals and 34 assists. Mark Stone also has 73 points with 28 goals and 45 assists. In goal for Vegas so far this season, Adin Hill is 10-9-6 with a 3.04 GAA and an .871 save percentage while Akira Schmid is 16-10-6 with a 2.59 GAA and an .893 save percentage this season. Carter Hart is also 11-3-3 with a 2.71 GAA and an .891 save percentage so far this season.

Colorado Avalanche Recap

The Colorado Avalanche come into this game looking to bounce back from their series-opening loss at the hands of the Golden Knights in the opener to fall behind in the set.

Avalanche Looking To Even Series Up At One

Nathan MacKinnon leads the Avalanche with 127 points including a team-high 53 goals and 74 assists while Cale Makar has 79 points with 20 goals and 59 assists. Martin Necas has 100 points with 38 goals and 62 assists while Artturi Lehkonen has 48 points with 21 goals and 27 assists. Gabriel Landeskog has 35 points with 14 goals and 21 assists. Brock Nelson also has 65 points with 33 goals and 32 assists. Scott Wedgewood has posted a 31-6-6 record with a 2.02 GAA and a .921 save percentage Mackenzie Blackwood is 23-10-2 with a 2.51 GAA and a .904 save percentage this season in goal for Colorado.

Vegas Golden Knights @ Colorado Avalanche Betting Trends: May 22, 2026

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Avalanche have won each of their last six games following a loss.
• The Golden Knights have lost each of their last four Game 2s of a playoff series.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in five of their last six games following a loss.
• The Golden Knights have failed to cover the puck line in 12 of their last 15 road games following a road win.
• The Avalanche have won the second period in each of their last five games against the Golden Knights when leading after the first period.

Why the Vegas Golden Knights will win

• The Golden Knights have won four of their last five games as underdogs.
• The Avalanche have lost five of their last seven games as home favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Golden Knights have covered the puck line in each of their last 13 games as road underdogs.
• The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last seven home games against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Avalanche have lost the second period in each of their last four games against Pacific Division opponents when trailing after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Nine of the last 10 games between the Golden Knights and Avalanche at Ball Arena have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Three of the Golden Knights’ last four games against the Avalanche following a road win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Golden Knights’ last 10 games.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Avalanche’s last seven Friday at Ball Arena.

Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts

• Nathan MacKinnon has scored at least one goal in six of the Avalanche’s last seven games.
• Nathan MacKinnon has recorded at least one assist in each of the Avalanche’s last seven Friday games.
• Nathan MacKinnon ranks 1st in the league for Goals (53) this season.

Vegas Golden Knights Player Prop Facts

• Brett Howden has scored at least one goal in each of the Golden Knights’ last six road games.
• Mitch Marner has recorded at least one assist in each of the Golden Knights’ last six road games.
• Pavel Dorofeyev has scored a goal in each of his last four appearances – longest active streak in the league.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals per game this season (3.63).
• The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals against per game this season (2.40).
• The Vegas Golden Knights rank 6th in the league in power play percentage this season (24.47%).
• The Vegas Golden Knights rank 7th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (81.37%).

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche Prediction

I’m on Colorado here. The Golden Knights took it to Colorado in game one, but I think the Avs strike back here. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Colorado all season, it’s that they don’t stay down when they get knocked down, and the Golden Knights are solid but this feels like a bounce back spot for Colorado to avoid the 0-2 hole going to Sin City. Give me Colorado.