Superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon will face off on the ice Wednesday for the final time this season when the Penguins visit the Avalanche.
The Avs are solid favourites on the NHL odds.
Penguins vs. Avalanche NHL Betting Odds
It’s not impossible these teams meet in the Stanley Cup Finals – Colorado easily could get back there and is the favourite to come out of the West, but the Penguins’ title-contending window might be closed. Pittsburgh does go for the regular-season sweep as it beat Colorado 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 7.
Nathan MacKinnon gave the Avs the lead midway through the second. Bryan Rust tied it at 16:22 of the third, and future Hall of Famer defenceman Kris Letang won it at 3:36 of OT. The Penguins killed a penalty in overtime before Letang won it with a shot from the left circle. Casey DeSmith played one of his best games of the year in net for Pittsburgh with 41 saves, while Pavel Francouz stopped 36 shots in the loss.
The home team is 6-2 in the past eight meetings.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh has fallen out of one of the East’s two wild card spots thanks to a four-game losing streak. They faced Ottawa 24-year-old netminder Dylan Ferguson in his first NHL start Monday and peppered him with 49 shots yet managed one goal in the 2-1 defeat – courtesy of Rickard Rakell (25th of season). The Pens also dominated in the faceoff circle but were 0-for-3 on the power play and allowed one PP goal on two tries for Ottawa. Pittsburgh was without injured defencemen Jan Ruuta, Jeff Petry and Marcus Pettersson, who is now out the rest of the regular season at least. Tristan Jarry is 0-2-0 (one game in relief) with 6.26 GAA and .810 save per centage over his previous three appearances. Might be Casey DeSmith’s turn Wednesday. Pittsburgh is 6-13 in its past 19 on the road.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado won its sixth straight game Monday, 5-0 over Chicago. Alexandar Georgiev was the No. 1 star with his fifth shutout of the season, stopping 27 shots. His personal five-game winning streak ties a season high. Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to stretch his points streak to nine games. Denis Malgin had two goals and a helper. Centre Evan Rodrigues (14G, 19A) was placed in the concussion protocol after getting hurt Monday. Star blueliner and reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar (16G, 45A) has had trouble staying in the lineup and missed Monday’s game. He’s day-to-day. Maker has 16 points in his last nine contests. The Avs are 5-0 in their past five playing on one day of rest.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Penguins vs. Avalanche?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 21 Mar 8:10pm | PIT | -1.5 +140 | O +6.5 -105 |
| Closing 22 Mar 5:00pm | PIT | -1.5 +144 | O +6.5 -105 |
- Regular Season
Penguins Team Leaders
| Points |
1 |
| + / - |
-2 |
| Shots |
4 |
| Penalty Mins |
4 |
| Wins |
0 |
| GAA |
| Points |
| + / - |
| Shots |
| Penalty Mins |
| Wins |
| GAA |
- Regular Season
Avalanche Team Leaders
| Points |
1 |
| + / - |
-2 |
| Shots |
4 |
| Penalty Mins |
4 |
| Wins |
0 |
| GAA |
| Points |
| + / - |
| Shots |
| Penalty Mins |
| Wins |
| GAA |
Injuries
Drew O'Connor (LW)
Tristan Jarry (G)
Marcus Pettersson (D)
Jan Rutta (D)
Jeff Petry (D)
Jan Rutta (D)
Jeff Petry (D)
Dmitry Kulikov (D)
Nick Bonino (C)
Bryan Rust (RW)
Andrew Cogliano (C)
Bowen Byram (D)
Darren Helm (LW)
Evan Rodrigues (C)
Artturi Lehkonen (LW)
Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Josh Manson (D)
Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew O'Connor (LW) | Prob Thurs | Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 23 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
O'Connor has been absent from the previous two contests with an upper-body injury, but it is likely that he will return against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. |
|||||
| Tristan Jarry (G) | Ques Sat | Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 23 | 7-4 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Jarry sat out the last match with a lower-body injury, leaving his status against the Capitals on Saturday up in the air. |
|||||
| Marcus Pettersson (D) | Prob Thurs | Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 23 | 7-6 | 5-8 | + - |
|
Pettersson has been shifted to the long-term injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, but it is projected that he will return against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. |
|||||
| Jan Rutta (D) | Mid April | Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 23 | 7-7 | 5-9 | + - |
|
Rutta is sidelined with a lower-body issue, and he will remain out of action until the middle of April. |
|||||
| Jeff Petry (D) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23 | 7-8 | 6-9 | + - |
|
Petry is out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, and team officials have yet to confirm an exact return date. |
|||||
| Jan Rutta (D) | Ques Thurs | Lower Body - 14 / 03 / 23 | 7-9 | 6-10 | + - |
|
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 | 7-9 | 6-10 | + - |
|
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) | Mid April | Lower Body - 12 / 03 / 23 | 8-9 | 6-11 | + - |
|
Kulikov has landed on the injured reserve list with a lower-body issue, and he will remain idle until at least the middle of April. |
|||||
| Nick Bonino (C) | Out indefinitely | Kidney - 11 / 03 / 23 | 8-10 | 7-11 | + - |
|
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 | 8-12 | 8-12 | + - |
|
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. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Cogliano (C) | day-to-day | Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 23 | 4-5 | 2-6-1 | + - |
|
Cogliano is managing an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round. |
|||||
| Bowen Byram (D) | Ques Tues | Illness - 08 / 04 / 23 | 6-8 | 6-7-1 | + - |
|
Byram has missed the previous two contests with an illness, leaving his status for Tuesday's tilt against the Oilers up in the air. |
|||||
| Darren Helm (LW) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 05 / 04 / 23 | 6-8 | 7-6-1 | + - |
|
Helm is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Evan Rodrigues (C) | Prob Sun | Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23 | 10-11 | 10-9-2 | + - |
|
Rodrigues has been idle while going through the concussion protocol, but he is expected to return against the Coyotes on Sunday. |
|||||
| Artturi Lehkonen (LW) | Prob Thurs | Finger - 14 / 03 / 23 | 12-12 | 12-10-2 | + - |
|
Lehkonen has been idle after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger, but he is expected to return to the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Jets. |
|||||
| Kurtis MacDermid (D) | Prob Mon | Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23 | 13-15 | 13-13-2 | + - |
|
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 | 13-17 | 15-13-2 | + - |
|
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 | 14-17 | 15-14-2 | + - |
|
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 | 16-17 | 15-15-3 | + - |
|
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 | 20-18 | 18-17-3 | + - |
|
Nichushkin is battling an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will line up for Wednesday's matchup versus the Wild. |
|||||
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 21 Mar 8:10pm PIT -1.5 +140 O +6.5 -105 Closing 22 Mar 5:00pm PIT -1.5 +144 O +6.5 -105 -
- Regular Season
Penguins Team Leaders
Points 1
+ / - -2
Shots 4
Penalty Mins 4
Wins 0
GAA Points + / - Shots Penalty Mins Wins GAA -
- Regular Season
Avalanche Team Leaders
Points 1
+ / - -2
Shots 4
Penalty Mins 4
Wins 0
GAA Points + / - Shots Penalty Mins Wins GAA -
Injuries
Drew O'Connor (LW)
Prob Thurs Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 23Tristan Jarry (G)
Ques Sat Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 23Marcus Pettersson (D)
Prob Thurs Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 23Jan Rutta (D)
Mid April Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 23Jeff Petry (D)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23Jan Rutta (D)
Ques Thurs Lower Body - 14 / 03 / 23Jeff Petry (D)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 14 / 03 / 23Dmitry Kulikov (D)
Mid April Lower Body - 12 / 03 / 23Nick Bonino (C)
Out indefinitely Kidney - 11 / 03 / 23Bryan Rust (RW)
Ques Thurs Personal - 07 / 03 / 23Andrew Cogliano (C)
day-to-day Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 23Bowen Byram (D)
Ques Tues Illness - 08 / 04 / 23Darren Helm (LW)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 05 / 04 / 23Evan Rodrigues (C)
Prob Sun Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23Artturi Lehkonen (LW)
Prob Thurs Finger - 14 / 03 / 23Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Prob Mon Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Ques Sat Illness - 03 / 03 / 23Josh Manson (D)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Ques Tues Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Ques Wed Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Drew O'Connor (LW) Prob Thurs Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 23 2-2 2-2 + - O'Connor has been absent from the previous two contests with an upper-body injury, but it is likely that he will return against the Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Tristan Jarry (G) Ques Sat Lower Body - 23 / 03 / 23 7-4 5-6 + - Jarry sat out the last match with a lower-body injury, leaving his status against the Capitals on Saturday up in the air.
Marcus Pettersson (D) Prob Thurs Lower Body - 20 / 03 / 23 7-6 5-8 + - Pettersson has been shifted to the long-term injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, but it is projected that he will return against the Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Jan Rutta (D) Mid April Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 23 7-7 5-9 + - Rutta is sidelined with a lower-body issue, and he will remain out of action until the middle of April.
Jeff Petry (D) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23 7-8 6-9 + - Petry is out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, and team officials have yet to confirm an exact return date.
Jan Rutta (D) Ques Thurs Lower Body - 14 / 03 / 23 7-9 6-10 + - 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 7-9 6-10 + - 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) Mid April Lower Body - 12 / 03 / 23 8-9 6-11 + - Kulikov has landed on the injured reserve list with a lower-body issue, and he will remain idle until at least the middle of April.
Nick Bonino (C) Out indefinitely Kidney - 11 / 03 / 23 8-10 7-11 + - 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 8-12 8-12 + - 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.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Andrew Cogliano (C) day-to-day Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 23 4-5 2-6-1 + - Cogliano is managing an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Bowen Byram (D) Ques Tues Illness - 08 / 04 / 23 6-8 6-7-1 + - Byram has missed the previous two contests with an illness, leaving his status for Tuesday's tilt against the Oilers up in the air.
Darren Helm (LW) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 05 / 04 / 23 6-8 7-6-1 + - Helm is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Evan Rodrigues (C) Prob Sun Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23 10-11 10-9-2 + - Rodrigues has been idle while going through the concussion protocol, but he is expected to return against the Coyotes on Sunday.
Artturi Lehkonen (LW) Prob Thurs Finger - 14 / 03 / 23 12-12 12-10-2 + - Lehkonen has been idle after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger, but he is expected to return to the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Jets.
Kurtis MacDermid (D) Prob Mon Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23 13-15 13-13-2 + - 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 13-17 15-13-2 + - 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 14-17 15-14-2 + - 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 16-17 15-15-3 + - 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 20-18 18-17-3 + - Nichushkin is battling an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will line up for Wednesday's matchup versus the Wild.