This is a 10* TOP THURSDAY SIDE PLAY on the Colorado Avalanche.

I had a play on the Avalanche in Game 5, and that one came up short in OT, as the Knights have now won three games in a row.

Beating a team as good as the Avalanche three times in a row is obviously a very difficult thing to accomplish. Beating them four times in a row is going to prove to be too much though in my opinion.

The Knights are a great team, but after three straight emotional wins, I believe the home side will come up short here.

Conversely, this Colorado team is deep, talented and well-coached and I expect it to respond big time in this underdog role and with a chance to send this one back home for an exciting Game 7.

These teams are evenly matched. Of the five games they've played, two have gone to overtime and one was decided by a single goal. Each has also suffered a blowout loss, with the Avs winning Game 1 by a score of 7-1, and the Knights winning Game 4 by a score of 5-1.

The bottom line is though, I think Las Vegas is now "gassed" after three straight wins. I'll take the desperate Avalanche at the "plus money" price to send this one back to Colorado.

Good luck, NP