Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Prediction, Winner, NHL Game 2 Picks – Friday, May 22

May 22, 2026

4 min read

AP Photo/David Zalubowski
NHL

The Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche clash in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Friday, May 22, with puck drop set for 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Avalanche are favored to win, returning a 1.47x payout if they win, via PrizePicks. 

After winning eight of their first nine playoff games, the Colorado Avalanche dropped Game 1 at home on Wednesday night. It was the first Game 1 loss by the Avs since the first round in 2024. The Golden Knights have led 1-0 in all three of their postseason series. 

Colorado is looking to head back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since it won in 2022, and the Golden Knights won the championship in 2023 — which was their last trip to the Final.

Below, we’ll break down our Golden Knights vs. Avalanche prediction and picks for Friday’s NHL game, including puck line, over/under, and top player picks for PrizePicks.

Make your Golden Knights vs. Avalanche picks on PrizePicks for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

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Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Prediction, Winner, Over/Under for Game 2 – Friday, May 22

After a scoreless first period, the Golden Knights scored 3 goals over the next 21 minutes to take Game 1 on the road. Forward Mitch Marner had 1 assist to increase his playoff-leading point total to 19.

Vegas continues to do it with offense, leading all postseason teams with 48 goals while sitting third with 3.69 goals per game. Jack Eichel is second in points, behind teammate Marner (16), and leads all players with 15 assists. The Golden Knights also have the top two goal scorers in Pavel Dorofeyev (10) and Brett Howden (9) to pace the offense. 

The Avalanche offense has been just as good as Vegas, leading all postseason teams at 3.90 goals per game. Nathan MacKinnon has paced the Avs with a team-leading 7 goals and 14 points.

Game 1 of the WCF marked the third time in the last four contests in which the Avs fell behind by multiple goals.


Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Winner Payout, Over/Under for Game 2 – Friday, May 22

The Avalanche enter Friday’s Game 2 as home favorites against the Golden Knights, returning a 1.47x payout if they win outright, via PrizePicks Team Picks.

Here are the full payouts for Golden Knights vs. Avalanche on PrizePicks

  • Puck Line: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (2.17x payout)
  • Over/Under: 6.5 (2x payout on Over)
  • Game Winner Payout: Golden Knights 2.56x | Avalanche 1.47x
Play the Golden Knights vs. Avalanche winner or over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money — available in 35 states!

Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.


Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche Timeline for NHL Playoffs

Here is the full Golden Knights vs. Avalanche timeline, including the playoff series game-by-game and recent matchup history.

All-Time: Avalanche, 20-19

Regular Season: Avalanche, 2-1

Series: Golden Knights, 1-0

Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Western Conference Finals Timeline, Schedule for 2026 NHL Playoffs

  • Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Avalanche 2
  • Game 2: Friday, May 22, 8 p.m. at Colorado
  • Game 3: Sunday, May 24, 8 p.m., at Vegas
  • Game 4: Tuesday, May 26, 9 p.m. at Vegas
  • Game 5-7 if necessary

Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Prediction on Winner for NHL Playoffs, Game 2

Here are the key stats and trends behind our Golden Knights vs. Avalanche prediction on the winner for Friday, May 22

Lock in your Golden Knights vs. Avalanche prediction on PrizePicks before the puck drops.
  • The Golden Knights are 5-2 on the road this postseason, winning two of three in Utah, two of three in Anaheim, and Game 1 in Colorado. 
  • Per MoneyPuck, the Golden Knights have a goal percentage of 59.26%, ranking second among postseason teams. However, their shot attempt rate is 47.03% (ninth in playoffs).
  • While Vegas has opened each series with a win, it has lost Game 2 in its last two series.
  • Vegas has 358 shots through 13 games, the most of any team. Four goals have been short-handed, which also leads the playoffs.
  • Colorado has a 57.98% xGoals in 5-on-5 situations, leading all teams this postseason. 
  • The Avs have scored a power play goal on 25.9% of their opportunities (fifth in playoffs).
  • Colorado’s 3.63 goals per game in the regular season led the NHL. It is up to 3.90 in the postseason. 
  • The Avalanche hasn't lost two straight games since March 16 and 18.

Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Player Picks, Stats for PrizePicks: 5/22/26

Here are the top Golden Knights vs. Avalanche picks to target in Game 2 of the NHL Playoffs on PrizePicks for Friday, May 22. Today’s NHL picks for PrizePicks include C Jack Eichel and G Scott Wedgewood.

Get a Payout Boost every night of the NHL Playoffs on PrizePicks.

Golden Knights C Jack Eichel vs. Avalanche: 0.5 Points

  • Golden Knights C Jack Eichel has 16 points in the postseason, ranking as the second-most among all players.
  • His 15 assists have a +3 cushion over second place for the NHL Playoffs.
  • Eichel has points in 10 of 13 postseason games, recording multiple points in five matchups.
  • The former No. 2 overall pick's 90 points finished 13th in the NHL regular season.
  • In two regular season games vs. the Avs this season, Eichel had 1 goal on 7 shots. 
Add Jack Eichel to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

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Avalanche G Scott Wedgewood vs. Golden Knights: 23.5 Goalie Saves

  • Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood had 24+ saves in his first six postseason starts and in seven of 10 playoff appearances.   
  • After allowing no more than 1 goal in the first four games of the postseason, Wedgewood has allowed 2+ goals in four straight starts. 
  • Per MoneyPuck, Wedgewood owns a 1.5 goals saved above expected, which is ninth among postseason goalies.
  • During the regular season, the seventh-year goalie led the league with a 2.02 GAA and .921 save percentage. He was fifth with a 23.1 goals saved above expectation. 
Add Scott Wedgewood to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

Make Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Game 2 Picks on PrizePicks

Will the Vegas Golden Knights take a 2-0 lead in Colorado and head home with a chance to clinch the West? Or will the Presidents’ Cup winner even the series at home?

Don’t wait until lock — make your Golden Knights vs. Avalanche picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.

Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.

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David Bearman spent 18 years with ESPN in their Stats & Information Department and overseeing their betting content. From 2023-25, he served as Chief Content Officer of Pro Football Network, overseeing all content, including coverage of Super Bowls 58 and 59. He is also the Founder of Betting with Bearman, a 3x a week betting newsletter and weekly podcast on Bleav Podcast Network.