Home-and-Home Series with Colorado is One to Circle on the Calendar
"I think it elevates intensity," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think sometimes, emotions carry over game to game, and our game is at its best when both teams are emotionally invested."
It's been a while since they've had a series like that, but they're finally getting the opportunity this weekend in a home-and-home with the NHL's top team, the Colorado Avalanche. The two clubs will face off on Saturday afternoon in Colorado before
coming to Pittsburgh for a rematch on Tuesday evenin
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"Emotions will probably be higher because of what happened the game before, and it can translate," defenseman Kris Letang said. "I think it's going to raise a lot of intensity."
The Penguins haven't seen this particular opponent in a while, but if their last season series is any indication, it should be an especially exciting set of games. Both of their matchups in 2019-20 went to overtime, with the Penguins winning both.
On Oct. 16, 2019 at PPG Paints Arena, Brandon Tanev's first goal as a Penguin was a memorable one, as he became just the second player in franchise history to score shorthanded in overtime after Mario Lemieux in 1996. Then on Jan. 10, 2020 at Ball Arena, Jared McCann tallied in extra time to give the Penguins a 4-3 victory.
The Avalanche were a good team then, but now, they're arguably the best. They enter tomorrow's contest on a 7-1-1 run in their past nine, and sit alone at the top of the NHL standings with 102 points, four ahead of Florida and Carolina (who are tied). Meanwhile, the Penguins rank fifth with 92 points, one behind the third-place New York Rangers.
Since Nov. 18, the Penguins have rattled off a 36-12-6 record for 78 points and a .722 points percentage, all of which are first in the Eastern Conference and second-best in the NHL behind the Avalanche (41-9-5, 87 points, .791 points percentage).
Both clubs play exciting brands of hockey led by their high-end players. Following their win over San Jose Thursday night, Avalanche forward Alex Newhook said, "I think our speed is very tiring for other teams if we keep that up and keep the pressure on." The Penguins like to push the pace as well, with a fast and in-your-face style of play.
Here's a look at both teams heading into this series that Penguins fans - or hockey fans in general, really - won't want to miss.
BATTLE OF COLE HARBOUR
Nova Scotia natives and fellow first-overall picks Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon are both incredibly close, and incredibly competitive. Whether it's during offseason training or in-season matchups, these two alwayswant to beat each other. And considering that it's been a while, the latest edition of this head-to-head battle should be an exciting one.
Thankfully, they're both good to go after each dealing with some injuries throughout the course of the season. The Avalanche had a recent scare this past week after MacKinnon fought Minnesota's Matt Dumba on Sunday, and missed a game while being further evaluated. Fortunately, MacKinnon was deemed good to go for Thursday, and enters Saturday with 70 points (22G-48A).
Crosby has the slight edge on his buddy with 71 points (25G-46A), and as he can appear in a maximum of 70 games this season, the 34-year-old captain has ensured that he will average a point per game for the 17th time in his career. After having the start of his season delayed following a wrist procedure, then getting sidelined with a bout with COVID, Crosby is back to his usual elite level of hockey.
So is Evgeni Malkin, who scored the overtime winner on Thursday in Minnesota to give him 17 goals in just 32 games this season. That's remarkable in itself, but even more so when you consider the 35-year-old superstar is coming off a major knee surgery. Mike Sullivan speaks for all of us when he says that the Penguins have had the best one-two punch in the league for a decade-plus.
Meanwhile, Jake Guentzel (32 goals in 63 games) and Bryan Rust (22 goals in 47 games) continue to establish themselves as star players in this league, while trade deadline acquisition Rickard Rakell has three goals and five points in six games as a Penguin.
On the other side, MacKinnon's main running mate has been Mikko Rantanen. The 25-year-old Finn leads the team with 34 goals, which is a new career high, topping his previous best of 31 in '18-19. Sixteen of those have come on the power play, which is third-most in the NHL. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog also surpassed the 30-goal mark before getting sidelined due to knee surgery, and Nazem Kadri is having an All-Star season. These matchups on the front end should be a lot of fun to watch.
BLUE-CHIP BLUELINERS
On the back end, Colorado boasts one of, if not the, best blueliners in the NHL.
Cale Makar won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in '19-20, and is now a leading candidate to win the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman with the year he is having. The 23-year-old leads all players at his position with 24 goals (!), a new single-season franchise record, and ranks second behind Nashville's Roman Josi with 74 points.
Kris Letang may have a few years on young Cale, but like the rest of Pittsburgh's core leadership group, he's aging like a fine wine. The 34-year-old alternate captain recorded his 500th NHL assist on Thursday against Minnesota. In doing so, he become just the sixth active blueliner, and 33rd defenseman in NHL history to accomplish such a feat.
RED-HOT POWER PLAYS
You might want to prepare for the goal horn to go off every time someone heads to the box, as both teams are currently red-hot with the man-advantage.
Pittsburgh's power play has scored in a season-high six straight games (9-for-24), while Colorado's power play has scored in a season-high nine straight games (12-for-28) for the first time since 2003.
However, the Penguins definitely have the edge when it comes to being shorthanded, as their penalty kill ranks second in the NHL while Colorado's is 18th.
