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The Colorado Avalanche (49-14-6) square off against the Pittsburgh Penguins (41-19-10) Tuesday in the second half of home-and-home at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we look at the Avalanche vs. Penguins odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
Colorado defended home ice in a 3-2 thriller over these Pens at Ball Arena Saturday. Avs D Devon Toews scored the winning goal with under five minutes remaining. The Avalanche have won four of five and eight of 10.
The Penguins need this game as they’re jockeying for playoff positioning. Pittsburgh has lost four of their last six games in what is the toughest part of their schedule of the season. Six of their last 10 outings have been against playoff teams, and a seventh was against the surging Buffalo Sabres.
Avalanche at Penguins odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Avalanche -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Penguins -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche +1.5 (-290) | Penguins -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -125)
Avalanche at Penguins projected goalies
Darcy Kuemper (32-9-3, 2.37 GAA, .925 SV%, 5 SO) vs. Tristan Jarry (33-15-6, 2.34 GAA, .921 SV%, 4 SO)
Kuemper has been great and has allowed 3 goals or fewer in eight straight games. He stopped 38 of 40 shots he saw against the Pens Saturday, and he should keep the Avs in this game.
Jarry has to be better than he was down the stretch last year for the Pens to do anything in the postseason. He has allowed 13 goals in the last four games, including three on 38 shots to these Avs Saturday. He needs to make a statement here.
Avalanche at Penguins odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Penguins 3, Avalanche 2
Money line
Money is flying in on Colorado as they were at plus money earlier Tuesday, and it makes sense if you go strictly by the numbers. However, this is a game Pittsburgh needs more.
Colorado is also still without C Gabriel Landeskog and will potentially be without C Nazem Kadri again. The Penguins have won three of four in this series, and they should defend home ice. PENGUINS (-115) is the way to go.
Against the spread
Colorado and the insurance will cost you nearly three times your return, and Pittsburgh hasn’t played well enough to consider the puck line outside of the 11-2 victory they whipped out against Detroit. PASS.
Over/Under
Two of the last three games between these teams ended 3-2. The Avs have hit the Under in four in a row, and it’s 12-2-2 in the Avs’ last 16 against games teams over .500. The UNDER 6.5 (-125) is the way to go here.