The Penguins – Avalanche meeting in Denver is the first of two regular-season matchups between the clubs, set to tip at 9: 30 p. m. ET at Ball Arena. Colorado will open a two-game homestand and will wear Quebec Nordiques Heritage Jerseys as part of the Heritage Series.
Game Context And Timing
The Avalanche enter the contest coming off a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, while Pittsburgh arrives after a 4-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth that snapped a two-game skid and helped keep the Penguins in second place in the Metropolitan Division. This is the first of two meetings this season; the clubs will meet again in Pittsburgh on March 24th. Puck drop for Monday night is 9: 30 p. m. ET at Ball Arena, marking Colorado Hockey Night for the home team.
Penguins – Avalanche: Lineup And Player Notes
Goaltending and forward availability figures into the early storylines. Scott Wedgewood is to start in goal for Colorado; he carries a 25-4-5 record and a. 918 save percentage in the games noted. For Pittsburgh, Arturs Silovs is slated to start in net following the club’s most recent outing.
There are differing notes on the status of the Penguins’ captain. One preview indicated he participated fully in a morning skate and could return to the lineup after an injury sustained at the Winter Olympics; another noted he took part in a skate but did not take line rushes and was likely to remain out. Sam Girard, who was traded from Colorado to Pittsburgh, is expected to be in attendance but not in the lineup; the Avalanche plan a tribute recognizing his role in the club’s previous championship run.
Pittsburgh will also see the return of Evgeni Malkin from a five-game suspension and the return of Justin Brazeau from injury, both of whom took part in line work during a recent skate. Colorado’s forward group includes lines that feature Nazem Kadri — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas and Joel Kiviranta — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin, while Pittsburgh’s forward group includes pairs such as Anthony Mantha — Rickard Rakell — Bryan Rust.
Avalanche Performance, Matchups And Stakes
Nathan MacKinnon leads the league with 44 goals and ranks second with 109 points and third in assists with 65 in the games referenced. Martin Necas scored Colorado’s lone goal in the recent loss and has 31 goals and 80 points; his nine goals since February 25th were tied for the most in the NHL in the notes provided. On the blue line, Cale Makar is tied for third in points with 67 and tied for fourth in goals with 19 and assists with 48 for the season described.
Colorado’s five-on-five metrics have been a strength: the Avalanche posted an NHL-best 179 five-on-five goals, and they allowed just 40 five-on-five goals against since January 1st, the second fewest in the league for that span. Those numbers feed into the home team’s objective to rebound quickly and make the most of a homestand that begins with the Pittsburgh visit.
Historical Edge And What Comes Next
In 98 previous regular-season meetings between the franchises, the Avalanche/Nordiques organization holds a record of 47-38-7-6. Colorado has leaned on its depth down the middle — able to deploy lines that include MacKinnon, Brock Nelson and Kadri — while Pittsburgh has collected points since the Olympic break and used recent wins to climb the Metropolitan Division standings.
Monday’s game offers an immediate measuring point: Colorado aims to rebound from the loss in Winnipeg, and Pittsburgh looks to sustain momentum after rallying for a win. The teams will meet again in Pittsburgh on March 24th, giving both organizations a clear runway for adjustment depending on how this matchup unfolds.
