Penguins vs Avalanche Prediction, Best Bets & Starting Goalies (Oct. 16)

• I’ve made my Penguins vs Avalanche prediction for Friday’s matchup at Ball Arena
• Compare the moneyline and total angles behind my Friday NHL picks
• See my Penguins vs Avalanche best bets, confirmed starting goalies and latest odds below

The Pittsburgh Penguins head west Friday to take on the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Colorado sits fourth in the Central Division, while Pittsburgh is sixth in the Metropolitan.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin lead the Pens into a building where Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar run the show. Pittsburgh’s penalty kill gives it a puncher’s chance, but Colorado’s offense has been the bigger story early.

Puck drop is set for 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT in Denver. My Penguins vs Avalanche prediction, best bets and starting goalies are below.

Penguins vs Avalanche Prediction

• Penguins to win (+170 at BetMGM)

I’m taking Pittsburgh to win for my Penguins vs Avalanche prediction. The +170 price works out to about a 37% implied chance, and I like the Pens’ odds better than that.

This matchup is closer than the moneyline makes it look. Both teams allow 2.86 goals per game, and Pittsburgh still puts up 3.43 a night.

Special teams are where the Pens can steal this one. Their 89.5% penalty kill is well ahead of Colorado’s 82.4%, and it’s the best counter to a 20.0% Avs power play.

MacKinnon is the engine of the Colorado attack, so keep an eye on him in the Hart Trophy odds. But Pittsburgh’s kill has been one of its strongest numbers, and that’s the unit that has to slow him down.

The Pens also own the edge in the crease on paper, with a .894 team save percentage compared with Colorado’s .881. In a game that could come down to a few big chances, I’ll back the road dog at +170.

Penguins vs Avalanche Best Bets

• Over 6.5 goals (-128 at BetMGM)

My top Penguins vs Avalanche best bet is the over, and it fits right alongside the Pittsburgh pick. The -128 price translates to about a 56.1% implied chance, and the scoring rates point higher.

These two offenses combine for 7.86 goals per game. Colorado fires 30.57 shots per night, and Pittsburgh isn’t far behind at 28.43.

Neither crease has been airtight, either. The Pens own a .894 team save percentage and the Avs sit at .881, so pucks have been finding the net at both ends.

Colorado’s 20.0% power play gives it one more path to goals, even against a strong Pittsburgh kill. I’ll take the over on a game where both sides can fill the net.

Penguins vs Avalanche Starting Goalies

Arturs Silovs and Mackenzie Blackwood are the confirmed Penguins vs Avalanche starting goalies, according to Daily Faceoff. Silovs gets the start for Pittsburgh, with Blackwood in net for Colorado.

Silovs enters with a .885 save percentage, while Blackwood is at .879. Both teams will need more from their starters against the scoring talent on the other bench.

Penguins vs Avalanche Odds

Odds as of Oct. 16 via BetMGM. Compare prices across prediction market apps, or grab the Kalshi promo code before you trade on the NHL.

The latest Penguins vs Avalanche odds have Colorado at -208, about a 67.5% implied chance, while Pittsburgh’s +170 price translates to roughly 37%. The Pens are -133 on the +1.5 puck line (57.1% implied), and Colorado is +110 to cover -1.5, implying a 47.6% shot.

The under sits at +105 for anyone who disagrees with my total. Check the latest NHL odds for the rest of Friday’s slate.

Penguins vs Avalanche Team Stats

The Penguins vs Avalanche team stats show both clubs allowing 2.86 goals per game, but Colorado gets there while giving up about three fewer shots a night. Pittsburgh’s best weapon is its penalty kill, which will have to be sharp against the Avs’ power play.