The Colorado Avalanche descend on the Las Vegas Golden Knights for game 3 of their second round West Division series on Friday. As it stands, the Avs are in the ascendancy with a 2-0 lead in the series after winning both home games over the Golden Knights. This in turn sees the Avs favoured to advance their advantage on the road as across sports betting sites the odds are cornered with Colorado.
It’s not overwhelming favor by any means as both teams are tipped just a smidgen above EVEN money, but the Avs do nudge ever so slightly ahead. Conversely, it follows however that with the market so tight, the Golden Knights can’t be dismissed out of hand either. So, this raises the question: where is the value bet for Game 3?
Colorado Avalanche vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights
Friday, June 4, 2021 – 8:00 PM ET at T-Mobile Arena
The Avs Take 2-0 Lead
The Colorado Avalanche underscored their top credentials as the NHL’s best team and their favorable NHL odds by kicking off the second round series with the Las Vegas Golden Knights in winning fashion. Beginning with a total evisceration of the Golden Knights in their opener, the Avs heaped a whopping seven goals on a hapless Robin Lehner who started instead of Marc Andre Flurry in a surprising – if not ill-advised – goalie switch that backfired spectacularly.
The second game was a different story, although at the start it felt like it might just be another blowout. Vegas had reverted back to Flurry as the starter, which proved to be the right decision in the end. Nevertheless, despite Vegas playing an overall better game, the Avs still managed to clinch the crucial victory and take the 2-0 lead in the series.
To all intents and purposes, the second game was more competitive than the first with both teams playing solid hockey. The Avs got off to a fast start, taking advantage of Flurry’s rustiness by scoring two quick goals in the first period to go up 2-1 in the game. However, Flurry eventually settled into the game and shut out the Avs for the next two periods while the Golden Knights capitalized on a second period opportunity to tie the game.
Things did get nervy in the third period and the game could have ended on a controversial call late in the third period when the Golden Knights were awarded the man advantage. The Avs rallied though and held on to send the game into overtime. Buoyed by the near-miss, the Avs were quick on the uptake in overtime and Mikko Rantanen finally broke the deadlock when he beat Flurry to lift the Avs to the pivotal 3-2 win.
Golden Knights Down 0-2
The Golden Knights are faced with a 0-2 hole as the series heads to Vegas. It goes without saying, being down 0-2 against the league’s best team in the regular season isn’t the best position to be in. Some might even argue that it’s an impossible situation to be in. And yet, the odds makers aren’t writing off the Golden Knights in the betting as they enter Game 3 as the nominal home underdogs.
To be fair, their underdog status is remarkably thin in the best sportsbooks. To the point that it’s almost negligible. Both teams are trading in minus money and a hairbreadth apart at the same time on the board. Many of the best sportsbooks have the Avs trading as the -115 faves and the Golden Knights as merely the -105 so-called home underdogs.
Suppose the manner in which the Golden Knights rallied in Game 2 is partly responsible for the somewhat modest betting market that’s currently trading. Obviously, Flurry played a large part in keeping the score reasonable but the Golden Knights altogether played better. At some points, they even seemed to outplay the Avs for stretches in the game.
Nevertheless, despite their spirited rally in Game 2 they are down in the series and faced with a must-win game at home. Whether they can rise to the occasion remains to be seen.
NHL Predictions and Picks
The Golden Knights did well to slow down the Avs in Game 2, but they failed to overcome the Avs in the end. That’s what matters the most. Winning is the bottom line in playoff hockey and without wins it matters not whether a team played well or badly. Nobody remembers the losers, only the winners reap the rewards.
So, the onus is on the Golden Knights to get the job done at home and get back into this series. If the Golden Knights don’t get into the win column in Game 3, they’ll fall deeper into the sinkhole they’re already in and from which getting out will be nigh improbable.
We can safely assume the Golden Knights have a viable shot to win game 3 as the NHL odds indicate, but it’s equally the case for the Avs who’s been solid in the playoffs thus far and making good on their top billing. So, while the Golden Knights could win game 3, the Avs should win game 3. Therefore, the Avs are the choice bet both straight up and on the puck line.
NHL Picks: Colorado Avalanche -110 with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+260) with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
