Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds, Picks & Predictions - Game 3 - 05/24

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Written By Chris Kubala | Published at May 24, 2026
May 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) looks to pass during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche in game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

In the lone game on the docket, the Colorado Avalanche are on the road as they travel to take on the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals series Sunday night and we have you covered with our Avalanche vs. Golden Knights prediction. Vegas controlled the series opener, prevailing 4-2 on the road, Wednesday night to draw first blood in the series. The Golden Knights followed up with a 5-2 triumph in Game 2 at home Tuesday night.

Will the Golden Knights take a 3-0 stranglehold in the series or can Colorado find a way to play their game on the road? Let’s break down this Avalanche vs. Golden Knights matchup.

Avalanche Struggling to Find Their Footing

Colorado held the lead for the better part of the contest but couldn’t maintain their momentum. As a result, the Avalanche now find themselves in a 2-0 series hole as they head on the road. Colorado needs a win here in the worst way after dropping a pair on home ice.

In Game 2, Colorado was stout defensively for two periods. Unfortunately, hockey is a 60-minute contest, barring overtime. The Avalanche saw Vegas outshoot them 12-11 in the opening period but skated off with a 1-0 advantage at the first intermission. Ross Colton opened the scoring with his second goal of the playoffs at 16:59 of the period. Brent Burns and Nazem Kadri drew the assists on the goal. In the second period, Colorado owned a 9-4 edge in shots with neither team scoring. That kept it a 1-0 game after 40 minutes. The third period saw the Avalanche with a 10-9 shot advantage but a 3-0 disadvantage on the scoreboard sent them to defeat.

Scott Wedgewood made 22 saves for Colorado, who owned a 30-25 advantage in shots, in the loss. Wedgewood (7-2-0, 2.30 GAA, .912 save percentage) projects as the starter in net for this contest.

Golden Knights Shooting for 3-0 Series Advantage

Vegas was shut down in the first two periods of Game 2 before breaking out in the final stanza. The Golden Knights look to prevail at home and take a 3-0 series advantage in this contest. Vegas neutralized the Avalanche’s high-octane attack in Games 1 and 2. Will they do it again here?

The Golden Knights were stuck in neutral for a while before breaking through late to take the Game 2 win. Vegas owned a 12-11 advantage in shots in the opening period but trailed 1-0 on the scoreboard after 20 minutes of play. The Golden Knights faced a 9-4 shot deficit in the second period though neither side dented the twine, keeping it a 1-0 game at the second intermission.

In the third period, Vegas was outshot 10-9 but outscored Colorado 3-0 to earn the win. Jack Eichel tied the score with his second goal of the playoffs at 9:15 off assists from Pavel Dorofeyev and Ivan Barbashev. Barbashev gave Vegas a 2-1 advantage with his fourth of the postseason at 11:22 with assists going to Eichel and Dorofeyev. Later, Barbashev closed the scoring with his second goal of the game and fifth of the playoffs. The goal, which was an empty-net marker, came at 18:57. Rasmus Andersson drew the lone assist on that marker.

Carter Hart stopped 29 shots for Vegas, who was outshot 30-25, in the victory. Hart (10-4-0, 2.19 GAA, .924 save percentage) is the likely man between the pipes for the Golden Knights here.

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Stats to Know

Colorado is:

Vegas is:

Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Prediction

One thing we’ve seen in this series is that the Avalanche aren’t the same team without Cale Makar. He’s missed the first two games of this series with an upper body injury. Colorado has to get him back in the lineup as they’ve mustered just three goals in the series. That’s a stark contrast to the 13 in four games against the Kings and 24 in five games against the Wild. Vegas played well in the first two games and Hart looks sharp in his first postseason action since 2019-20. Still, this is a Colorado team with its back to the wall. The Avalanche come out swinging and earn a much-needed victory here.

Our Prediction: Avalanche ML (-144, FanDuel)

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