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Read Article Golden Knights vs. Avalanche prediction: Why Colorado is favored to win Game 1 [2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche predictions for NHL Wednesday.
The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights will lock horns in Game 1 of the NHL Playoffs at Ball Arena on Wednesday, with puck drop at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model projects the Avalanche as the most likely winner of the Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 1 matchup.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Wednesday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Golden Knights vs. Avs prediction: Who will win Game 1?
Using powerful machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Wednesday's NHL Playoffs matchup between the Golden Knights and Avalanche, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model gives the Avalanche a 61% chance of beating the Golden Knights in Game 1 of the series.
According to our model, the Golden Knights (+1.5) have a 62% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has a 56% chance of staying under.
Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 1 odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Golden Knights | Avalanche |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-170) | -1.5 (+142) |
| Moneyline | +145 | -172 |
| Total | o6.5 (+105) | u6.5 (-124) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Golden Knights vs. Avalanche picks and best bet for Game 1
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Golden Knights +1.5 | -170 |
| Moneyline | Golden Knights | +145 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | -124 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Golden Knights vs. Avalanche player props
Who will score a goal in Golden Knights vs. Avalanche?
According to our model, Nathan MacKinnon is most likely to score an anytime goal in Golden Knights vs. Avalanche.
Our projections give MacKinnon a 36.4% chance of scoring a goal at Ball Arena, while the star is a 7.4% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Vegas Golden Knights
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Pavel Dorofeyev | 31.9% |
| Mitch Marner | 28.3% |
| Jack Eichel | 27.2% |
| Brett Howden | 24.8% |
| Ivan Barbashev | 22.7% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 36.4% |
| Martin Necas | 29.8% |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 29.3% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 27.1% |
| Nazem Kadri | 25.5% |
First goal scorer predictions
Vegas Golden Knights
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Pavel Dorofeyev | 7.1% |
| Mitch Marner | 5.6% |
| Jack Eichel | 5.2% |
| Brett Howden | 4.6% |
| Ivan Barbashev | 4.5% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 7.4% |
| Martin Necas | 6.1% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 5.6% |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 5.5% |
| Nazem Kadri | 4.7% |
Golden Knights vs. Avs Game 1 updates and essential details
Wednesday's Game 1 between the Avalanche and Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is scheduled to commence at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche
- Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Ball Arena
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup.
A total of 16 teams, including the Golden Knights and Avalanche, made the 2026 NHL Playoffs, which consists of four rounds: the First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Each round is contested as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins moving on to the next round until a champion is crowned.
Conclusion
We predict the Avalanche, with a 61% win probability, will likely beat the Golden Knights in Wednesday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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