The Colorado Avalanche (16-13) will look to extend their two-game winning streak as they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (12-13-4) at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night in what promises to be an intriguing cross-conference matchup.
Both teams enter the contest with momentum, as the Avalanche are coming off an impressive 4-0 shutout victory against the Devils, while the Penguins have won four straight home games, including a convincing 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The high-powered Avalanche offense, averaging 3.24 goals per game and led by the dynamic duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, will test a Penguins defense that has struggled this season, allowing 3.72 goals per game.
Pittsburgh's veteran core of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will need to capitalize on their opportunities against an Avalanche team that has shown defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in the first period where they rank last in the league for goals allowed.
Recent history between these teams adds another layer of intrigue, with the Penguins having won three of their last four meetings against Colorado, though the Avalanche claimed victory in their most recent encounter with a 5-4 overtime win.
As both teams aim to improve their positions in their respective divisions, this matchup could prove pivotal in determining their trajectories heading into the middle portion of the NHL season.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche: who will win?
For tonight's Penguins vs Avalanche matchup, our predictive model gives the Avalanche a 53.4% chance of defeating the Penguins.
Pittsburgh Penguins: 53.4% win probability
- Superior offensive output (95 goals scored vs Penguins' 84)
- Better position in standings (8th in West vs Penguins' 11th in East)
- Higher points total (32 points vs Penguins' 28 points)
Colorado Avalanche: 46.6% win probability
- Poor defensive record (110 goals against, worst in league)
- Negative goal differential (-26, among bottom 5 in league)
- Lower win percentage (12 wins in 29 games vs Avalanche's 16)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche odds
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Colorado Avalanche | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | +140 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | -165 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Pittsburgh Penguins have won 12 out of 29 matches this season.
- 2The Colorado Avalanche have won 16 out of 29 matches this season.
- 3With 28 points, the Pittsburgh Penguins holds the 11th position in the league standings.
- 4Colorado Avalanche's 32 points place them 8th in the rankings.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche form
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche head to head
Pittsburgh Penguins
50%
Colorado Avalanche
50%
Mar 24, 2024
Colorado Avalanche
5 : 4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Oct 26, 2023
Pittsburgh Penguins
4 : 0
Colorado Avalanche
Mar 23, 2023
Colorado Avalanche
2 : 5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Feb 8, 2023
Pittsburgh Penguins
2 : 1
Colorado Avalanche
Apr 5, 2022
Pittsburgh Penguins
4 : 6
Colorado Avalanche
Apr 2, 2022
Colorado Avalanche
3 : 2
Pittsburgh Penguins
