Avalanche vs. Penguins Prediction
The Colorado Avalanche are the last remaining unbeaten team in the NHL. Can Colorado win a sixth game in a row to start the season tonight at the Pittsburgh Penguins?
Game Snapshot
31 Colorado Avalanche at 32 Pittsburgh Penguins
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
PPG Paints Arena at 7:05PM ET
TV: NBCSN
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Penguins are a -115 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Avalanche are a -105 underdog, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. As of Wednesday morning, 64 percent of public bets are siding with visiting Colorado. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Four-goal first propels Avs
Colorado led 4-0 through one period Monday night with a 6-3 victory at Washington to improve to 5-0-0 on the season. Erik Johnson opened the scoring 3:42 in off assists by Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky. Nikita Zadarov added the next goal two-plus minutes later as Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon recorded assists. Kadri pushed it to 3-0 less than two minutes later with assists going to Joonas Donskoi and Cale Makar. Rantanen made it 4-0 on the power play with 10:35 left in the first on assists from Gabriel Landeskog and Kadri. The Capitals trimmed it to 4-2 by the end of the second period, but with 15:36 remaining in the third period a Matt Nieto goal assisted by Tyson Jost pushed it back to 5-2. After Washington made it 5-3 with 2:21 to go, the Avalanche completed the scoring with 40 seconds left as MacKinnon scored with assists from Rantanen and Landeskog. Philipp Grubauer notched the win as he allowed three goals on 32 shots.
Penguins dominate Jets
Pittsburgh cruised to a 7-2 win Sunday night at Winnipeg to improve to 7-2 on the season. The Penguins trailed 1-0 in the first period until Zach Aston-Reese tied it at 1-1 at the 15:51 mark off assists by Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev. Jake Guentzel put Pittsburgh ahead for good on a power play goal with 12:10 to play in the second period on assists by Brian Dumoulin and Marcus Pettersson. Sam Lefferty made it 3-1 41 seconds later via assists by Joseph Blandisi and Kris Letang. The Jets trimmed their deficit to 3-2 midway through the second on a power play goal, but the Penguins made it a two-goal game again with 3:32 to go in the second on a Dominik Simon goal on assists from Sidney Crosby and Pettersson. Lefferty extended the lead to 5-1 midway through the third period off assists by Aston-Reese and Justin Schultz. Guentzel provided his second goal of the game two-plus minutes later via assists courtesy of Letang and Crosby. Aston-Reese added the final goal shorthanded and unassisted with 5:14 left to complete the scoring. Tristan Jarry registered 27 saves on 29 shots to post the win.
NHL Betting Trends
Colorado
The Avalanche are 4-0 in their last four games versus the Metropolitan Division. Colorado is 8-2 in its last 10 Wednesday games.
Pittsburgh
The Penguins are 4-1 in their last five Wednesday games. Pittsburgh is 13-6 in its last 19 games versus the Central Division.
Prediction:
The Avs have been unreal so far this season, but they remain on the road for this game and face a Pittsburgh team that is well-rested and will have its No. 1 goalie in Matt Muray back in net tonight after winning with Jarry last game. No team can stay perfect forever and with the points Colorado has already built up from its five wins, it can afford a loss in this spot.
NHLPREDICTION: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS -115