Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights: Game 3 Preview of the Third Round

Vegas Golden Knights – Colorado Avalanche: the threat of elimination hangs over them

The Western Conference final has taken a turn few saw coming. Vegas has total control. Two straight wins earned at altitude. A handy 2-0 lead in the series. Game 2 left a mark. The home side led after the opening period before falling apart. Time to break down the third meeting.

Vegas sets the pace late

The clinical third-period finish now defines this group. A one-goal deficit wiped out in brutal fashion. Jack Eichel tied it on a lightning-fast zone entry. Ivan Barbashev then cashed in from the slot. The top line simply buried the opposition. Jack Eichel (one goal, one assist), Pavel Dorofeyev (two assists) and Ivan Barbashev (three points) drove the comeback.

Late-game depth has been shredding opposing defences. A fourth spring win sealed in the final period. A benchmark in the Bettman circuit. Goaltender Carter Hart stopped 29 of the 30 shots sent his way. And Mark Stone’s extended absence with a lower-body injury, now five games and counting, has done nothing to slow Vegas down.

The Avalanche crack under pressure

The structure was there, at least for a while. The tempo was controlled. Ross Colton opened the scoring late in the first period on a rebound. Opposing rushes were kept quiet. Then came the third period collapse. Failed clears. No answer for the visitors’ top line. Mistakes that were punished immediately.

The offence is still there. Thirty shots on target. Nathan MacKinnon kept driving forward, creating danger all night. But not being able to shut the game down is fatal. It was their first loss this season after leading through 40 minutes, having gone 45-0 before that. Colorado have now dropped two in a row for the first time this spring. Before Vegas arrived, they had just one blemish in nine outings.

$0.99

7-day trial

Full Pro access.
Try it for $0.99.

Picks · Injury reports · Trends · Tools · No ads — no commitment

Let’s do it

NHL Prediction Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche

Over 3.5 goals for Vegas (regulation time)

Urgency has changed the Avalanche. The margin for error is gone. Nevada’s offence is tearing through every wall in front of it. Vegas have scored at least three times in every game of this series. That kind of consistency was already there down the stretch in the regular season.

Colorado’s defensive lock has been picked twice at home. A return to the desert should light a fire under the hosts. The intensity will rise from the first faceoff. The top line’s firepower should rip through a shaky defensive shell. Backing Vegas to clear 3.5 goals is the sharpest read on the night.

[mathodds_app_cta]

_____

First, a word on our predictions

• What we publish on mathodds is analysis, nothing more. It’s an opinion, a read on the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport is what it is: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a freak goal out of nowhere… and the script changes completely.
• Let’s be clear: there is no risk-free bet. Even when something looks obvious, it never really is. And yes, that means you can lose. In fact, at some point, you will.
• The best approach is to stay sensible. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Never touch money you need for living expenses. And above all: don’t chase your losses, it rarely ends well.
• A bet should stay a game, not a job or a source of income. If it starts taking over your day, if it frustrates you or puts you under pressure, take a break. And if you need to, speak to a specialist support group. That’s what it’s there for.
• In the end, the responsibility is yours. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will never disappear, no matter how good the analysis is.
• Important reminder: betting is forbidden to minors and must follow the law in your country. Gambling can spiral fast (money lost, family tension, addiction). Need Help? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In the UK? Visit https://www.gambleaware.org/https://www.gambleaware.org/.

No commitment from us

Our predictions are not a contract. They carry no legal weight. In plain English: you cannot use them to demand anything if a bet does not land.

Information changes

A prediction is always based on what we know when it is written. But in the meantime, a team sheet can change, a player can get hurt, the weather can turn ugly… and the analysis can be out of date before you know it. We cannot be held responsible for that.

Your responsibility

Before you place a bet, check that gambling is legal where you are. If it is not, that is your problem, not ours.

Responsible gambling first

We cannot say it enough: gamble in moderation. If you struggle to keep control, get help sooner rather than later. We cannot be responsible for compulsive or excessive use of the information on this site.

Legal age

mathodds content is intended for adults only. By using this site, you confirm that you are old enough to bet under the law.

About the visuals

The images and logos on mathodds, including those of the Nevada side and the Avalanche linked to the NHL, are included purely to illustrate our articles. They do not mean we have any official connection with a federation or a sports body, and we claim no rights over them.

Those rights belong to the original creators. If, despite our best efforts, any visual causes an issue, contact us and it will be removed without delay.

Our only goal with these images is to make the read a bit easier. Nothing more. No commercial gain, no taking credit for someone else’s work.