NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are my NHL predictions and best bets for the series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche.
Vegas Golden Knights (+215) vs. Colorado Avalanche (-265)
Game One: Wednesday, May 20 at Colorado
With Game One of this series not starting until next Wednesday (May 20), it gives both teams the opportunity to give some banged-up players some much-needed recovery time. The Golden Knights are dealing with injuries to captain Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. For the Colorado Avalanche, it appears that Cale Makar is dealing with an upper-body injury. Makar was seen grabbing his right shoulder following a hit by Mats Zuccarello of the Minnesota Wild. Makar briefly left the game but did not register a shot on goal in the game and had only one shot (blocked) that was directed at the net. If Makar is comprised in any way for this series, it would make the Golden Knights a far more attractive wager.
I like this series to go at least six games, and I will make my standard wager on playing both teams to win in six and seven games and look to come away with a smaller profit if the Avs win as opposed to the Golden Knights. There is one head-to-head series point prop that caught my eye (currently available on FanDuel). As I mentioned earlier, Cale Makar is dealing with what looks like a shoulder injury. After a three-point game in game one against Minnesota, Makar was pointless in the final four games of the series. Shea Theodore has nine points through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
As more prop plays become available, I will likely add to my portfolio.
NHL Playoff Predictions and Series Bets:
Shea Theodore (+300) to have more points than Makar – 1 unit
Colorado Avalanche to win in 6 games (+360) – ½ unit
Colorado Avalanche to win in 7 games (+380) – ½ unit
Vegas Golden Knights to win in 6 games (+700) – ½ unit
Vegas Golden Knights to win in 7 games (+650) – ½ unit
