by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Feb 06, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Where to watch: ATTSN-PT, ALT, TVAS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
FanDuel: Penguins -115, Avalanche -104
BetMGM: Penguins -115, Avalanche -105
Caesars: Penguins -115, Avalanche -105
Season record
Avalanche: 27-18-3
Penguins: 24-16-9
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Avalanche - Penguins preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Avalanche: won 4-2 vs. Blues
Penguins: lost 6-4 vs. Sharks
The Colorado Avalanche will be playing the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, February 7 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Colorado Avalanche won against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, January 28 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado with a score of 4-2. The Colorado Avalanche currently rank 4th in the Central Division.
Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves. Alex Newhook scored on his 22nd birthday, and Logan O'Connor had two assists for the Avalanche (27-18-3), who have won seven of their past eight games.
"I liked the game. I thought it was a good hockey game," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "I thought we were in complete control of it until they got some life off power plays at the end of the second period. I thought coming off a game where guys can be tense (a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday), we know it's a big four-point divisional game, (and) guys came out hard and played hard with good purpose."
Newhook gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 9:22 of the first period when he received a chip pass off the boards from O'Connor and scored on his own rebound. It was Newhook's third goal in four games.
"Great puck by 'OC' there to get it past the 'D,' and just coming through the middle, thought I could beat him with the first shot, but came back to me and put it in," Newhook said. "Feeling good, getting to the right areas, I think. Guys are getting me the puck. Got to give a lot of credit to my linemates, too."
J.T. Compher extended it to 2-0 at 11:36 when he tucked in the rebound of Samuel Girard's point shot inside the right post.
Evan Rodrigues then pushed it to 3-0 at 4:48 of the second period. After tipping the puck at St. Louis' blue line, Rodrigues scored from the right face-off circle after receiving a cross-ice pass from Nathan MacKinnon.
"I saw all three forwards in front of me, [and] I knew Nate was kind of turning out that way and just tipped it to him," Rodrigues said. "I thought maybe if the 'D' stepped up on me he might have enough space to just drive wide, but just gave it to him during the rush and just caught it and shot it.
"Look at any team that is at the top of the League. They've all [got] three or four lines that score, and our 'D' are contributing and we're just kind of firing on all cylinders right now."
Matt Nieto, who was acquired from the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, scored an empty-net goal at 19:57 for the 4-2 final. The goal came after Georgiev made a glove save on a one-timer from Jordan Kyrou with 18 seconds remaining.
The Colorado Avalanche have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, January 28 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a score of 6-4. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 5th in the Metropolitan Division.
Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist, Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and DeSmith made 26 saves for the Penguins (24-16-9), who had their six-game point streak end (3-0-3).
"It's frustrating when we beat ourselves because we don't manage the puck appropriately in the critical areas of the rink," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "When you look at some of the goals they scored tonight, it was a direct result of that."
Malkin tied it 1-1 on a power play at 5:45. After a shot by Crosby was blocked in front, Rickard Rakell collected the puck and passed to Malkin for a tap-in at the right post.
"There are 33 games left, every game is important," Malkin said. "We want to play in the playoffs."
Crosby gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 12:55 with another power-play goal, deflecting a shot from Malkin off the left post before batting it in out of the air.
"We've got to be better," Crosby said. "We've got to find a way to solve it. … Some nights, I think, maybe we're forcing things. Other nights, we make a mental mistake. It's not consistently the same thing. All those add up and end up in the back of our net. So we've got to solve it."
Ryan Poehling tied it 3-3 at 14:54 with a short-handed goal. He scored five-hole with a wrist shot on a 2-on-1 for his first goal since Nov. 25 (14 games).
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Watch out. The Avalanche are coming. Full speed ahead and no end in sight. If the Penguins can't control it, things are going off course. Avalanche 4, Penguins 2
The Colorado Avalanche will be playing the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, February 7 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Colorado Avalanche won against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, January 28 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado with a score of 4-2. The Colorado Avalanche currently rank 4th in the Central Division.
Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves. Alex Newhook scored on his 22nd birthday, and Logan O'Connor had two assists for the Avalanche (27-18-3), who have won seven of their past eight games.
"I liked the game. I thought it was a good hockey game," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "I thought we were in complete control of it until they got some life off power plays at the end of the second period. I thought coming off a game where guys can be tense (a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday), we know it's a big four-point divisional game, (and) guys came out hard and played hard with good purpose."
Newhook gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 9:22 of the first period when he received a chip pass off the boards from O'Connor and scored on his own rebound. It was Newhook's third goal in four games.
"Great puck by 'OC' there to get it past the 'D,' and just coming through the middle, thought I could beat him with the first shot, but came back to me and put it in," Newhook said. "Feeling good, getting to the right areas, I think. Guys are getting me the puck. Got to give a lot of credit to my linemates, too."
J.T. Compher extended it to 2-0 at 11:36 when he tucked in the rebound of Samuel Girard's point shot inside the right post.
Evan Rodrigues then pushed it to 3-0 at 4:48 of the second period. After tipping the puck at St. Louis' blue line, Rodrigues scored from the right face-off circle after receiving a cross-ice pass from Nathan MacKinnon.
"I saw all three forwards in front of me, [and] I knew Nate was kind of turning out that way and just tipped it to him," Rodrigues said. "I thought maybe if the 'D' stepped up on me he might have enough space to just drive wide, but just gave it to him during the rush and just caught it and shot it.
"Look at any team that is at the top of the League. They've all [got] three or four lines that score, and our 'D' are contributing and we're just kind of firing on all cylinders right now."
Matt Nieto, who was acquired from the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, scored an empty-net goal at 19:57 for the 4-2 final. The goal came after Georgiev made a glove save on a one-timer from Jordan Kyrou with 18 seconds remaining.
The Colorado Avalanche have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, January 28 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a score of 6-4. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 5th in the Metropolitan Division.
Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist, Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and DeSmith made 26 saves for the Penguins (24-16-9), who had their six-game point streak end (3-0-3).
"It's frustrating when we beat ourselves because we don't manage the puck appropriately in the critical areas of the rink," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "When you look at some of the goals they scored tonight, it was a direct result of that."
Malkin tied it 1-1 on a power play at 5:45. After a shot by Crosby was blocked in front, Rickard Rakell collected the puck and passed to Malkin for a tap-in at the right post.
"There are 33 games left, every game is important," Malkin said. "We want to play in the playoffs."
Crosby gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 12:55 with another power-play goal, deflecting a shot from Malkin off the left post before batting it in out of the air.
"We've got to be better," Crosby said. "We've got to find a way to solve it. … Some nights, I think, maybe we're forcing things. Other nights, we make a mental mistake. It's not consistently the same thing. All those add up and end up in the back of our net. So we've got to solve it."
Ryan Poehling tied it 3-3 at 14:54 with a short-handed goal. He scored five-hole with a wrist shot on a 2-on-1 for his first goal since Nov. 25 (14 games).
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Watch out. The Avalanche are coming. Full speed ahead and no end in sight. If the Penguins can't control it, things are going off course. Avalanche 4, Penguins 2
Betting trends
Avalanche are 10-2 after winning 3 of 4 this season.
Avalanche are 71-36 after playing at home the past 3 seasons.
Penguins are 4-14 after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
Projected lines
Avalanche:
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Matt Nieto -- J.T. Compher -- Denis Malgin
Evan Rodrigues -- Alex Newhook -- Logan O'Connor
Andrew Cogliano -- Ben Meyers -- Kurtis MacDermid
Devon Toews -- Cale Makar
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Brad Hunt -- Andreas Englund
Alexandar Georgiev
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Matt Nieto -- J.T. Compher -- Denis Malgin
Evan Rodrigues -- Alex Newhook -- Logan O'Connor
Andrew Cogliano -- Ben Meyers -- Kurtis MacDermid
Devon Toews -- Cale Makar
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Brad Hunt -- Andreas Englund
Alexandar Georgiev
Penguins:
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Rickard Rakell
Brock McGinn -- Teddy Blueger -- Jeff Carter
Drew O'Connor -- Ryan Poehling -- Danton Heinen
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Chad Ruhwedel
Casey DeSmith
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Rickard Rakell
Brock McGinn -- Teddy Blueger -- Jeff Carter
Drew O'Connor -- Ryan Poehling -- Danton Heinen
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Chad Ruhwedel
Casey DeSmith
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
