Vegas opens the Western Conference Final on the road against Colorado at Ball Arena, with the Avalanche priced as the clear favorite. Colorado finished the regular season 55-16-11 (121 points) and has gone 8-1 so far this postseason.
Vegas finished 39-26-17 (95 points) and enters Game 1 at 8-4 in the playoffs, backed by elite special teams and strong goaltending results to date.
Odds as of 10:05 AM ET on May 20, 2026.
Odds & Game Info
Puck drop is set for 8:20 PM ET at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, with odds from Bet105.
| Team | Spread (puck line) | Moneyline | Total (6.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1.5 (-168) | +155 | Over +100 / Under -122 |
| Colorado Avalanche | -1.5 (+136) | -184 | Over +100 / Under -122 |
Starting goalies
No official starting goalie confirmation was available at the time of writing. Vegas has primarily leaned on Carter Hart (8-4, 2.37 GAA, .917 SV% this postseason). Colorado has used both Scott Wedgewood (7-1, 2.21 GAA, .914 SV%) and Mackenzie Blackwood (1-0, 3.20 GAA, .872 SV%).
Injury notes
- Golden Knights: Mark Stone (lower body), Jeremy Lauzon (upper body), Jonas Rondbjerg (lower body) were listed as injured entering the series.
- Avalanche: Cale Makar missed practice Tuesday and his status for Game 1 was unclear. Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski returned to practice after missing time in Round 2.
Team Records
This table reflects 2025-26 regular-season results and splits.
| Team | Record | Last 10 | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | 39-26-17 (Home: 20-12-9, Road: 19-14-8) | 7-0-3 | Playoff games with 7+ total goals: 4 of 12 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 55-16-11 (Home: 26-9-6, Road: 29-7-5) | 7-2-1 | Playoff games with 7+ total goals: 4 of 9 |
Team Stats
These are each team’s 2025-26 playoff per-game rates entering Game 1.
| Team | Goals per game | Goals allowed per game | Power play % | Penalty kill % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | 3.67 | 2.58 | 25.7% | 86.8% |
| Colorado Avalanche | 4.11 | 2.56 | 25.0% | 79.3% |
More matchup stats (playoffs)
- Shots for per game: Vegas 27.5, Colorado 32.6
- Shots against per game: Vegas 29.3, Colorado 26.1
- 5v5 goals for per game: Vegas 2.08, Colorado 2.56
- 5v5 goals against per game: Vegas 2.08, Colorado 1.44
Recaps
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas advanced by beating Anaheim 5-1 in its most recent game (Game 6 of Round 2), building a 3-0 lead in the first period and adding two more goals in the third. The Golden Knights’ special teams continues to drive results, pairing a 25.7% power play with an 86.8% penalty kill through 12 playoff games.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado’s most recent game was a 4-3 overtime win against Minnesota in Game 5 of Round 2 on May 13, rallying from a 3-0 deficit after the first period. The Avalanche tied it with an empty-net goal late in the third and ended it in overtime, and they enter the West Final leading the playoffs at 4.11 goals per game.
Matchup Keys
- Colorado’s shot profile has been dominant: 32.6 shots for and 26.1 shots against per game in the playoffs, a sizeable volume edge.
- 5v5 separation favors Colorado: 2.56 five-on-five goals for per game vs 1.44 allowed, compared to Vegas at 2.08 for and 2.08 against.
- Special teams clash: Vegas owns the better penalty kill (86.8%), while both power plays are operating at 25% or better.
- Game script matters for the total: Vegas has played eight of 12 playoff games to six total goals or fewer, while Colorado has done so in five of nine.
- Rest and travel: Colorado last played May 13 and stays home; Vegas last played May 14 in Anaheim and travels to Denver with multiple days off.
Betting Trends
- Colorado is 8-1 straight up in the 2025-26 playoffs.
- Vegas is 8-4 straight up in the 2025-26 playoffs.
- Colorado is scoring 4.11 goals per game this postseason.
- Vegas is allowing 2.58 goals per game this postseason.
- Vegas has held opponents to 29.3 shots on goal per game in the playoffs, but it is also generating just 27.5 shots per game.
- Colorado has held opponents to 26.1 shots on goal per game in the playoffs.
- Vegas has seen 8 of 12 playoff games finish with 6 total goals or fewer.
- Colorado has seen 5 of 9 playoff games finish with 6 total goals or fewer.
- Colorado went 2-0-1 against Vegas in the 2025-26 regular season.
Best Bet
Colorado Avalanche moneyline (-184).
Colorado’s playoff profile is the more sustainable one at even strength, with a clear 5v5 goals edge (2.56 for vs 1.44 against per game) and a strong shots advantage (32.6 for vs 26.1 against). Vegas can absolutely swing games on special teams, but Colorado’s ability to tilt the ice reduces the number of high-leverage defensive sequences you need to survive. If Colorado gets a normal game in net, the volume plus 5v5 finishing has been enough to separate from quality opponents.
Predicted Score
Our computer projections model for this matchup predicts a final score of Colorado 4, Vegas 3
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