Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche begin a three-game road trip in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. EST.
Colorado enters today with a 27-18-3 record (57 points), sitting fourth in the Central Division, and one point out of the Western Conference wild card. The Avs are led by Mikko Rantanen with 34 goals and 61 points in his first 48 games. Artturi Lehkonen ranks second on the team in goals with 15. Nathan MacKinnon sits second on Colorado in points with 54 while Cale Makar sits third with 45. Pavel Francouz was the first goaltender off the ice this morning and appears to be in line to start. Francouz is 7-7-0 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .917 save percentage in 14 games.
Pittsburgh carries a 24-16-9 record (57 points) into tonight’s game. The Penguins place fifth in the Metropolitan Division and sit in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Sidney Crosby leads the team in goals with 24, assists with 36, and points with 60. Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin are both having solid seasons as well. Guentzel carries a stat line of 20-26-46, while Malkin brings a line of 19-31-50 into tonight. Casey DeSmith was the first goaltender off the ice this morning. The 31-year-old has a 7-10-4 record with a 3.35 GAA and a .901 SV% in 22 games.
The Penguins and Avalanche meet for the first time this season after the Avs took both games last April. Tonight’s projected starting goaltenders are Francouz for Colorado and DeSmith for Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Colorado 3, Pittsburgh 2
This has game-of-the-night potential with two teams fighting for playoff spots. The Avalanche are playing much better as of late, while the Penguins appear to be re-finding their footing. The subpar goaltending of Casey DeSmith will be the deciding factor of this game, as it could possibly go into overtime. The Avs will get its second half off to a solid start with a good road win in a tight-checking game.
Odds Presented By Betfred Sportsbook
Spread – Colorado Avalanche +1.5 (-265) / Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (+210)
Moneyline – Colorado Avalanche -110 / Pittsburgh Penguins -110
Total- 6.0 – Over (-110) / Under (-110)
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