COLORADO AVALANCHE (6-0-0) AT PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (2-4-0)
5:00 PM MDT | PPG PAINTS ARENA| WATCH: Altitude TV | LISTEN: 92.5FM
The Colorado Avalanche take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening at PPG Paints Arena for the second game of a three-game road trip out East. The contest is Colorado’s only visit to Pittsburgh in the regular season. The Avalanche-Penguins tilt can be watched on Altitude TV with puck drop scheduled for 5 p.m. MDT.
LATEST RESULTS
October 24, 2023 | COL: 7, NYI: 4
October 24, 2023 | DAL: 4, PIT: 1
THE BATTLE OF NOVA SCOTIA NATIVES
Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon have quite a bit in common. Both Nova Scotia natives were the No. 1 overall pick in their respective drafts with Crosby being selected in 2005 while MacKinnon went in 2013. Although they train together in the offseason, their friendship will be pushed aside in today's matchup.
AVS REMAIN HOT
The Avalanche broke the NHL record for longest road winning streak spanning multiple seasons, by securing their 15th straight regular-season road victory in a 7-4 triumph against the Islanders on Tuesday night. Dating back to last season, Colorado’s last loss on the road was March 4, 2023, at Dallas (7-3).
Colorado improved its record to 6-0-0 this season, tying the 2013-14 team for the second-best start in franchise history. Alexandar Georgiev set the franchise record for most consecutive winning starts to begin a season. Colorado enters Thursday’s matchup as one of three teams still undefeated this season, with six wins under the Avs belt. The Avalanche go into tonight’s match tied with Boston for the second-most wins (6), trailing only the Vegas Golden Knights (7).
Ryan Johansen has scored a power-play goal in each of the last three games (CHI, CAR, NYI). Valeri Nichushkin has accumulated at least one point per game in the last five games straight. Mikko Rantanen continues to lead Colorado in points with 12 (5g/7a), followed by Cale Makar with nine points (3g/6a). Rantanen’s 12 points rank fourth in the League on the young season while Makar’s nine points entered Wednesday tied for first among NHL defensemen.
HISTORY
Colorado owns a 44-37-7-6 all-time record against Pittsburgh, with a 21-20-5-3 mark on the road. Last season the Avalanche went 0-2-0 against the Penguins falling short 2-1 on February 7, 2023, and 5-2 on March 22, 2023.
Thursday’s matchup is the first of two games between the teams this season, with the other set for March 24, 2024, in Denver. Colorado goes into today's matchup following a 7-4 win while the Penguins had a 4-1 loss to Dallas. The Penguins are 1-2-0 at home this season and are amidst a four-game homestand on Thursday.
INSIDE THE IGLOO
Evgeni Malkin leads all-active Penguins skaters with 22 points (8g/14a) in 20 games, averaging 1.10 points per game against the Avalanche. Of those 22 points, Malkin has accumulated (3g/10a) in Pittsburgh.
Crosby leads active scorers in goals (12g/6a) in 19 games while Malkin leads in assists (8g/14a) across 20 games against Colorado.
Bryan Rust (2g/1a) and Evgeni Malkin (0g/3a) notched three points in two games against the Avalanche last season.
Malkin leads the Penguins in points during the campaign with four goals and four assists while Rust leads with five goals, in six games.
NUMBERS GAME
16
MacKinnon paces active Avalanche scorers against the Penguins with 18 points (7g/11a) in 18 games. When on the road, MacKinnon has accumulated six of those points (4g/2a) in nine games.
4
Rantanen notched four points (1g/3a) against the Islanders on Tuesday, tying his career record for most points in a game for the 19th time.
4
Makar has found the scoresheet in all four road games this season, compiling seven points (3g/4a).
2
Last season MacKinnon scored a goal and an assist in the two contests versus Pittsburgh, leading Colorado in points against the Penguins.
QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK
“I think we have some of the best players in the world. But in all honesty, our leaders have really been doing a great job. Those guys drive the bus, and whenever we’re down and out, they always seem to come up with a big play.”
- Colorado Defenseman Bowen Byram on leadership
