The Penguins enjoyed a much-needed 10-day layoff after dropping a 6-4 decision to San Jose last time out on January 28, and have now fallen to defeat in 13 of their past 19 outings. The Avalanche return to action following last week’s NHL All-Star Break gunning for a fourth straight road victory, and have earned the win in seven of their past eight overall.

Tuesday’s contest has emerged as a virtual pick ‘em on the NHL odds after opening with the Avalanche pegged as slim +100 underdogs, while the total remains unchanged since opening at 6.5.

Avalanche vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds

Tuesday night’s matchup at PPG Paints Arena marks the first of two meetings between these clubs this season. The Avalanche swept last season’s two-game set with the Penguins including a narrow 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh in early April, ending a three-game losing streak in head-to-head action. The OVER has gone 4-2-1 in their past seven overall dates, and the total has topped 6.5 in four of their past seven clashes in Pittsburgh.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche will be eager to maintain the torrid pace they established before the All-Star Break in Tuesday’s return to action. The Avs have surrendered just 15 total goals during their current 7-1-0 run while averaging over four goals per game over that stretch, and now enter the unofficial second half of the season trailing Calgary by just one point in the hunt for the second wild card in the West and holding three games in hand.

Alex Newhook has started showing flashes of his potential, scoring in three of his past four outings, and tallying seven points over his past eight appearances. Mikko Rantanen has racked up three goals and four assists during a four-game points streak and has turned in multi-point performances in 11 of 20 outings since mid-December.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are hoping that their recent lengthy layoff will help them turn the corner on a dismal run that has threatened to bounce them from the NHL playoff picture. Currently engaged in a tight four-way race for the second wild card in the East, the Penguins have struggled at both ends of the ice during their current 5-7-5 run. The club has been limited to two or fewer goals on nine occasions over their past 19 games, and has been lit up for at least five goals on six occasions.

Pittsburgh has fared slightly better on home ice, winning four of their past six while potting over four goals per game. However, they have squandered early leads in four of their past seven contests. The club could use steadier production at full strength from the duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Crosby has failed to score at even strength in five straight home games, while Malkin has tallied just one goal and two assists at even strength over his past six overall outings.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Penguins?

• Regular Season

Avalanche Team Leaders

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 90
+ / -	Devon Toews 30
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 306
Penalty Mins	Mikko Rantanen 62
Wins	Alexandar Georgiev 32
GAA	Keith Kinkaid 2.15

PIT

Points	Sidney Crosby 84
+ / -	Pierre-Olivier Joseph 8
Shots	Jake Guentzel 217
Penalty Mins	Marcus Pettersson 58
Wins	Tristan Jarry 21
GAA	Tristan Jarry 2.98

• Regular Season

Penguins Team Leaders

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 90
+ / -	Devon Toews 30
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 306
Penalty Mins	Mikko Rantanen 62
Wins	Alexandar Georgiev 32
GAA	Keith Kinkaid 2.15

PIT

Points	Sidney Crosby 84
+ / -	Pierre-Olivier Joseph 8
Shots	Jake Guentzel 217
Penalty Mins	Marcus Pettersson 58
Wins	Tristan Jarry 21
GAA	Tristan Jarry 2.98

Injuries

Colorado

Evan Rodrigues (C)

Out indefinitely Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23

Artturi Lehkonen (LW)

Late April Finger - 14 / 03 / 23

Kurtis MacDermid (D)

Prob Mon Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Ques Sat Illness - 03 / 03 / 23

Josh Manson (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23

Kurtis MacDermid (D)

Ques Tues Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23

Pavel Francouz (G)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 13 / 02 / 23

Erik Johnson (D)

Early April Ankle - 11 / 02 / 23

Evan Rodrigues (C)

Ques Sat Face - 09 / 02 / 23

Pittsburgh

Marcus Pettersson (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 23

Jan Rutta (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 23

Jeff Petry (D)

Ques Wed Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23

Jan Rutta (D)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 14 / 03 / 23

Jeff Petry (D)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 14 / 03 / 23

Dmitry Kulikov (D)

Early April Lower Body - 12 / 03 / 23

Nick Bonino (C)

Out indefinitely Kidney - 11 / 03 / 23

Bryan Rust (RW)

Ques Thurs Personal - 07 / 03 / 23

Mikael Granlund (RW)

Ques Thurs Illness - 07 / 03 / 23

Jeff Petry (D)

Prob Thurs Illness - 22 / 02 / 23

Injuries

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Evan Rodrigues (C)	Out indefinitely	Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23	2-1	1-1-1	+ -
Rodrigues is going through the concussion protocol, and it remains to be seen when he will return to the lineup.
Artturi Lehkonen (LW)	Late April	Finger - 14 / 03 / 23	4-2	3-2-1	+ -
Lehkonen is idle after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger, and he is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Kurtis MacDermid (D)	Prob Mon	Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23	5-5	4-5-1	+ -
MacDermid has been out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will return against the Blackhawks on Monday.
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 03 / 03 / 23	5-7	6-5-1	+ -
Nichushkin is ailing from an illness, and it is up in the air if he will dress for Saturday's battle against the Stars.
Josh Manson (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23	6-7	6-6-1	+ -
Manson is idle due to lower-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Kurtis MacDermid (D)	Ques Tues	Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23	8-7	6-7-2	+ -
MacDermid has been absent from the last four games while going through the league's concussion protocol, and it remains to be seen if he will be available Tuesday against the Sharks.
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23	12-8	9-9-2	+ -
Nichushkin is battling an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will line up for Wednesday's matchup versus the Wild.
Pavel Francouz (G)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 13 / 02 / 23	12-8	9-9-2	+ -
Francouz is idle with a lower-body injury, and a timetable for recovery has yet to be established.
Erik Johnson (D)	Early April	Ankle - 11 / 02 / 23	12-9	9-10-2	+ -
Johnson has been designated to the injured reserve list with a broken ankle, and he will remain idle until at least the beginning of April.
Evan Rodrigues (C)	Ques Sat	Face - 09 / 02 / 23	13-9	9-11-2	+ -
Rodrigues was removed from the previous game due to a facial injury, and it is unknown if he will take part in Saturday's clash with the Panthers.

Pittsburgh

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Marcus Pettersson (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 23	1-2	1-2	+ -
Pettersson has been shifted to the long-term injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Jan Rutta (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 23	1-3	1-3	+ -
Rutta is sidelined with a lower-body issue, and he is considered week-to-week moving forward.
Jeff Petry (D)	Ques Wed	Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23	1-4	2-3	+ -
Petry has missed the previous three contests due to an upper-body injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Thursday's matchup with the Stars.
Jan Rutta (D)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 14 / 03 / 23	1-5	2-4	+ -
Rutta was removed from the last game with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear if he will face the Rangers on Thursday.
Jeff Petry (D)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 14 / 03 / 23	1-5	2-4	+ -
Petry departed the previous contest with an unknown injury, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up for Thursday's battle with the Rangers.
Dmitry Kulikov (D)	Early April	Lower Body - 12 / 03 / 23	2-5	2-5	+ -
Kulikov has landed on the injured reserve list with a lower-body issue, and he will remain idle until at least the beginning of April.
Nick Bonino (C)	Out indefinitely	Kidney - 11 / 03 / 23	2-6	3-5	+ -
Bonino has been placed on the long-term injured reserve list following surgery to repair a kidney laceration, and he is considered week-to-week moving forward.
Bryan Rust (RW)	Ques Thurs	Personal - 07 / 03 / 23	2-8	4-6	+ -
Rust was absent from the previous match while awaiting the birth of his child, and it remains to be seen if he will be available against the Islanders on Thursday.
Mikael Granlund (RW)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 07 / 03 / 23	2-8	4-6	+ -
Granlund missed the last contest with an illness, leaving his status for Thursday's showdown versus the Islanders up in the air.
Jeff Petry (D)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 22 / 02 / 23	5-11	7-8-1	+ -
Petry is nursing an illness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up versus the Oilers on Thursday.