The Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up to face the Colorado Avalanche in what promises to be an intriguing matchup at Ball Arena in Denver. The puck drops at 9:30 p.m.
ET, and fans can catch all the action on ESPN. Let's dive into the details and see what we can expect from this clash.
The Avalanche have had the upper hand in this season's series against the Penguins, securing a 6-2 victory on the road and a 4-1 win at home. With a record of 44-12-9, Colorado is looking strong, especially as they hold a three-point lead over the Dallas Stars in the Central Division, with a game in hand.
The Penguins, sitting at 33-18-15, have been navigating a challenging stretch without their star center, Sidney Crosby, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Despite this, they've managed a 4-3-3 record over their last ten games.
Their recent 4-3 road win against the Utah Mammoth showcased some offensive firepower, with RW Anthony Mantha netting his 25th goal and RW Bryan Rust adding his 24th. Mantha, in particular, has been on a roll, scoring four goals in his last four outings.
On the flip side, the Avalanche are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, a rare stumble given their recent form of 7-3-0 over the last ten games. Winger Martin Necas was the lone scorer for Colorado, marking his 31st goal of the season.
Now, let's talk goaltending. The Penguins are expected to start Arturs Silovs, who has had a rough patch, allowing four or more goals in his last three starts.
His latest outing saw him concede five goals on just 16 shots against the Vegas Golden Knights. Silovs will be looking to turn things around, especially since he hasn't faced the Avalanche before.
For the Avalanche, Scott Wedgewood is set to be between the pipes. He's been on a hot streak, winning all five of his appearances since the Olympics and allowing just six goals in that span.
His performance against the Seattle Kraken was stellar, stopping 28 of 29 shots in a commanding 5-1 victory. Last season, Wedgewood was impressive against Pittsburgh, boasting a 2-0-0 record with a 1.50 GAA and a .950 save percentage.
So, what can we expect from this game? The Avalanche, playing at home with a hot goalie in Wedgewood, are rightfully the favorites.
They’ve shown they can handle the Penguins, even more so with Crosby absent. Colorado’s track record of winning by multiple goals in recent games suggests they could cover the -1.5 puck line.
As for the Over/Under, both teams have been fairly balanced in their recent outings, with the Avalanche at 3-5-2 and the Penguins at 5-5 in their last ten games. Given Wedgewood’s current form, the under 6.5 goals looks like a solid play unless something unexpected happens.
This matchup promises to be a test of resilience for the Penguins and a chance for the Avalanche to further solidify their position in the Central Division. Whether you're a fan of strategic plays or just love the thrill of the game, this is one to watch.