Pittsburgh Penguins vs Colorado Avalanche Picks and Predictions December 10th 2024

Avalanche Heating Up, Finish Road Trip Against Penguins

The Colorado Avalanche will look to cap off a successful road trip on a high note when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. Both teams come into the contest in strong form, with Colorado winning three of its last four games and Pittsburgh victorious in five of its past six outings.

Avalanche: Finding Their Groove

The Avalanche (16-9-1) have started to regain their championship-caliber form after a rough patch. They’ve outscored opponents 11-2 in their past two games, including a dominant 4-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

Keys to Success

• Defensive Cohesion: Coach Jared Bednar praised Colorado’s defense as their “best game of the year” in the shutout win against New Jersey.
• Goaltending Reinforcements: Recent acquisition Mackenzie Blackwood bolsters Colorado’s netminding depth alongside Scott Wedgewood, who has already proven reliable since joining the team.
• Offensive Stars: Mikko Rantanen (34 points) and Nathan MacKinnon (33 points) remain key offensive contributors, combining for dynamic plays game after game.

Areas to Address

• First-Period Struggles: The Avalanche have allowed a league-high 42 first-period goals, something they’ll need to tighten up against a fast-starting Penguins squad.

Penguins: Secondary Scoring, Steady Goaltending

Pittsburgh (14-10-2) is surging behind improved goaltending from Tristan Jarry and contributions from up and down the lineup. After a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Penguins are brimming with confidence.

Recent Highlights

• Hot Streak for Jarry: The veteran goaltender has won his last four starts, posting a stellar .900+ save percentage in three consecutive outings.
• Blake Lizotte’s Emergence: Lizotte’s four-game point streak has added depth scoring to complement Pittsburgh’s top stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
• Special Teams Clicking: The Penguins’ power play is delivering at key moments, a trend they’ll hope to continue against Colorado’s skilled penalty killers.

Matchup to Watch: Goaltending Duel

Colorado’s new tandem of Blackwood and Wedgewood will face stiff competition from Jarry, who has been in excellent form. The ability of either side’s netminder to deliver in high-pressure moments could determine the outcome.

Check out NHL Metropolitan Division Odds & Predictions for detailed insights and analysis.

Prediction

This game pits two teams trending upward, but Colorado’s recent dominance on defense and improved goaltending could give them the edge. Pittsburgh will rely on home-ice advantage and secondary scoring to keep things close, but the Avalanche’s star power might prove too much.