Avalanche vs Penguins Odds, Pick & Prediction (Feb 7)

• The Pittsburgh Penguins resume their schedule with a visit from the Colorado Avalanche
• The Avalanche return to action with wins in seven of eight, while the Penguins have lost 13 of 19
• Read on for all the odds and trends ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup at PPG Paints Arena

The Colorado Avalanche eye a return to the NHL playoff picture when they resume their schedule on Tuesday with a road date against the slumping Pittsburgh Penguins. The Avalanche end a 10-day layoff over the NHL All-Star Break on a steady 7-1 SU run that leaves them trailing by just one point in the hunt for the second wild card in the Western Conference. The Penguins return to action looking for answers after falling to defeat in 13 of their past 19 contests.

Start time is set for 7:00pm ET at PPG Paints Arena, with all the action televised on AT&T Sportsnet – Pittsburgh and Altitude 2.

After opening with the Penguins perched as razor-thin favorites, Tuesday’s contest has emerged as a pick ‘em in the NHL odds, with both clubs sporting -110 odds. The total has held steady at 6.5, with the UNDER shortening to a -115 wager.

Avalanche vs Penguins Odds

Odds as of February 7th at BetMGM Sportsbook. Get the BetMGM promo code for Avs vs Pens.

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Avalanche vs Penguins Recent History

Tuesday night’s matchup marks the first meeting of the season between these clubs. The Avalanche swept a pair of dates with the Penguins last season, snapping a three-game losing streak in head-to-head action, but have not claimed victory in consecutive visits to Steeltown since 2017.

The OVER has paid out in four of the past six clashes between these teams, with three of those contests getting settled by multi-goal margins.

Colorado Avalanche Betting Outlook

The Avalanche have received contributions from up and down the lineup during their current 7-1-0 run with 10 different players finding the back of the net over the club’s past five games. Arturri Lehkonen is among the role players upping their game, tallied five goals and eight points over the past eight games, but has been held off the scoresheet in his past two outings.

Per Jared Bednar, Bowen Byram and Valeri Nichushkin are good to go Tuesday at Pittsburgh.

Josh Manson will travel with he team but won't play. He'll start skating with the group and go from there.

Gabriel Landeskog is set to resume skating under team supervision shortly.

— Ryan Boulding (@rboulding) February 6, 2023

Mikko Rantanen continues to provide the spark. Currently the top point-getter in Colorado, Rantanen has recorded five points over the past three games, and has potted 11 goals and 20 points in 15 games since New Year’s Day.

Reinforcements are also on the way as the Avalanche resume their schedule. Valeri Nichushkin is expected to return to the lineup after missing two games due to continued concerns over his surgically reconstructed ankle. Rearguard Bowen Byram also appears poised to return following a three-month absence due to a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Outlook

While the Avs make plans to return to the playoff hunt, the Penguins come out of their All-Star layoff looking to end a swoon that has pushed them to the edge of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Currently deadlocked with the New York Islanders in the battle for the second wild card in the East, the Penguins must find a way to tighten up things in their own zone after allowing five goals per game over their past three outings.

Coach Sullivan on Jarry skating this morning: "He did well. He obviously will not play tonight. From a status standpoint, I'm going to say he's day-to-day. In saying that, I don't think his return is imminent, but it's not longer-term."

Casey DeSmith will get the start tonight. pic.twitter.com/et0SLDzHpD

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 10, 2023

With Tristan Jarry still on the shelf indefinitely, goaltending duties once again fall to Casey DeSmith. The 31-year-old has struggled with consistency since taking over the starter’s reins, allowing five or more goals in five of 10 outings, and has compiled a dismal .887 save percentage while going 3-4-2 over that stretch.

Up front, Evgeni Malkin has scored three times and added three helpers over the past three games, and has now turned in multi-point performances in five of his past 10 outings, but has recorded an average of just two shots on goal per game over his past four outings, and just 2.8 shots per game over his past 10 home appearances.

Avalanche vs Penguins Prediction

It is reasonable to expect the Penguins to eventually snap out of their current funk and return to familiar form. Indeed, the club’s precarious position in the standings brings urgency to the matter for this club.

However, with the Avalanche firing on all cylinders and enjoying the benefit of rapidly improving health, it might be too much to expect the Penguins’ rebound to start on Tuesday.

The Pick: Avalanche (-110); OVER 6.5 (-106)