Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and the Colorado Avalanche will do battle against Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in an East-West tilt. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 4, and you will be able to watch it live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Colorado Avalanche at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
The Penguins (-140) are favored over the Avalanche (+120) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 7 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Colorado is 16-11 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 14 of its outings have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and none have pushed. The Avs are 10-6 SU as an away team in 2018-19.
Colorado currently touts the first-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 32.2 percent of its extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of its penalties..
Averaging 29.4 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (10-8-3) has been the best option in goal for Colorado this season. If head coach Jared Bednar decides to rest him, however, Colorado may go with Philipp Grubauer (6-3-2 record, .904 save percentage, 3.06 goals against average).
On the other bench, Pittsburgh is 10-15 straight up (SU) and has already lost 14.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 25 regular season matches, 11 of its games have gone under the total, while 10 have gone over and just four have pushed. It’s 5-8 SU as the home team this season.
The Penguins have converted on 24.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Casey DeSmith (24.3 saves per game) has been the top netminder in the crease for the Penguins. DeSmith has six wins, 10 losses, and three overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a .922 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average this year.
Colorado Avalanche at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner \u2013 Penguins, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Notes
- Five of Colorado’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-0 in those games.
- The Penguins this season have recorded the most hits per game in the NHL (29.9), but the team’s averaged 35.2 over their past five games as the home team.
