Avalanche Game 30 at Pittsburgh Penguins: MacKinnon vs Crosby — Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Author:
Colorado Hockey Now

The Colorado Avalanche (16-13-0) look to close out their five-game road trip with a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins (12-14-4) on Tuesday night. The puck is scheduled to drop at 5:08 p.m. MT at PPG Paints Arena.

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and forward Nikolai Kovalenko were dealt to the San Jose Sharks for goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and forward Givani Smith on Monday.

Deen’s View: Avalanche Strategically Place Hopes in Blackwood’s On-Ice Potential and Character (+)

The roster shakeup could be an issue but the Avs played one of their best games of the season at the Prudential Center and will work to continue that momentum.

Goaltender Scott Wedgewood earned a 4-0 shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night. He will start between the pipes with Trent Miner as the backup.

Ross Colton’s return has sparked the Avs’ production. He has played on the second line with Casey Mittelstadt and Valeri Nichushkin. He scored the first goal of the victory over the Devils and Mittelstadt earned two assists in the game.

Logan O’Connor netted his fourth of the season and Parker Kelly got his second in an empty net. Mikko Rantanen — who will play in his 600th game tonight — got the assist on the ENG. Calvin de Haan earned two assists in the win.

The Pens are rested after their 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night. They have won five of their last six games, only falling to the New York Rangers in the first game of a back-to-back. The time off may be an advantage or a downfall against a team riding a shutout high.

Players to watch in this matchup are Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia natives and friends, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby. The 29-year-old Avs elite center had five shots on goal last outing but didn’t make the scoresheet. He sits in the NHL’s No. 3 spot for points with 41 while his native counterpart has 27. Granted, there is nearly a decade between the two, but Crosby is one of the best and most dangerous in the league.

Season Series

  • Dec. 10 at Pittsburgh Penguins
  • March 4 vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Avalanche Injuries

  • Josh Manson (upper body, week-to-week)
  • Oliver Kylington (upper body, week-to-week)
  • Miles Wood (upper body, month-to-month, LTIR)
  • Jonathan Drouin (upper body, week-to-week)
  • Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable, LTIR)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Ross Colton — Casey Mittelstadt — Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta – Ivan Ivan – Logan O’Connor
Givani Smith — Parker Kelly — Chris Wagner

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Sam Malinski
Keaton Middleton — Calvin de Haan

Scott Wedgewood
Trent Miner

Projected Starters (subject to change)

  • Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
  • Unconfirmed: Tristan Jarry (PIT)

Upcoming Milestones

  • Nathan MacKinnon — needs 3 assists for 600, 4 PPG for 100
  • Cale Makar — needs 5 goals for 100
  • Mikko Rantanen — needs 3 PPG for 100

How to Watch

  • TV: Altitude TV
  • Radio: 92.5 FM

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