Colorado Avalanche vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, NHL Odds
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.
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PIT