Pittsburgh Penguins vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction, Preview and Odds - 10/16/2026

Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Penguins +180, Avalanche -225; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Penguins +180, Avalanche -225; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Penguins +180, Avalanche -218; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Pittsburgh Penguins:  3-3-1 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

Colorado Avalanche:  4-2-1 (3rd place, Central Division)

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Pittsburgh Penguins:  3-3-1 last 7

Colorado Avalanche:  4-2-1 last 7

The Penguins are entering this game with 7 points, a 3-3-1 record overall, and they are 1-2-1 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Chicago Blackhawks in their last game, losing that one on the road 5-3. Sidney Crosby led the team in goals scored with 2 while Nicholas Robertson scored 1 goal for them in that one. Erik Karlsson led the team in assists with 2 while Rickard Rakell led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Sergei Murashov was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 19 shots with 15 saves and a .789 save percentage. Their offense has scored 25 goals this season averaging 3.6 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 22 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The Avalanche are entering this game with 9 points, a 4-2-1 record overall, and they are 2-1-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Dallas Stars in their last game, losing that one at home 3-2 in a shootout. Brock Nelson and Gabriel Landeskog each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Nazem Kadri led the team in assists with 2 while Sam Malinski and Nathan MacKinnon each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Scott Wedgewood was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 22 shots with 20 saves and a .909 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 31 goals this season averaging 4.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 22 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have looked good in their games this season with their 4-2-1 record overall which has them in the top half of their division in the West. They have looked good on home ice too with their 2-1-1 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Penguins have looked good in their games this season with their 3-3-1 record overall which has them in the top half of their division in the East. They haven't been a great road team though with their 1-2-1 road record this year. The Penguins had a hot start to the season, but lately they have been regressing with their defense not looking great. They have been giving up a ton of goals now and they are coming off a bad 5-3 loss to the Blackhawks who have looked like one of the worst teams in the NHL again. The Avalanche have been rolling though with one of the best offenses in the NHL. They have been scoring a ton of goals in their games and even their defense has looked a lot better by their standards. They are coming off a tough 3-2 loss to the Stars in a shootout and that was right after beating the Stars in Dallas the night before, but the Avalanche will be looking to bounce back at home after a tight loss like that. The Avalanche have looked a lot better at home this season too and they have the talent on offense to overpower the Penguins. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game and on the puckline. 

Penguins Avalanche Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Friday, October 16, 2026 (9:00 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 4 Penguins 1.

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Pittsburgh Penguins: 80-97 (-11.3 units) on the moneyline in all games. 42-66 (-7.8 units) on the moneyline as an underdog. 35-57 (-16.1 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 31-23 UNDER when playing only their 2nd game in 5 days.

Colorado Avalanche: 36-11 (+10.6 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -200 to -300. 45-24 (+4.8 units) on the moneyline after 1 or more consecutive losses. 42-17 (+6.5 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%). 26-19 UNDER as a favorite of -200 to -300.

Pittsburgh Penguins:  T. van Riemsdyk (D) Out - Lower Body. R. Graves (D) Out - Lower-body. J. Brazeau (RW) Out - Lower-body.

Colorado Avalanche:  N. Roy (C) Day To Day - Lower Body. Z. L'Heureux (LW) Day To Day - Upper Body. L. O'Connor (RW) Out - Lower-body. G. Merkulov (C) Out - Undisclosed.

“There’s going to be some different areas we’re going to walk out of this that we need to continue to work to clean up. I think that we played a little bit into the type of game that I think they want to play in terms of making it a track meet. I think there were times, I think in terms of with the puck, opportunities to possess it, opportunities to come up ice together, work through the neutral zone together. When you miss those opportunities, you’re missing opportunities to be in the offensive zone and you’re leading to more time defending.” - Dan Muse after his team’s loss against the Blackhawks in their game on Tuesday. 

“Every time we play these guys, it's a close game. It's a hard-fought game. Loved the first (period), loved the third. I didn't love our habits and discipline, I guess, in the way we want to play in the second period. I liked our response in the third period. We just came up a little bit short, but overall effort from our guys two nights in a row was pretty solid.” - Jared Bednar after his team’s loss against the Stars in their game on Wednesday. 

LW Rickard Rakell

C Sidney Crosby

RW Bryan Rust

LD Declan Carlile

RD Erik Karlsson

G Sergei Murashov

LW Artturi Lehkonen

C Nathan MacKinnon

RW Martin Necas

LD Devon Toews

RD Cale Makar

G Scott Wedgewood

Points: Erik Karlsson (7)

Goals: Nick Robertson (4)

Assists: Erik Karlsson (7)

GAA: Arturs Silovs (2.72)

Points: Nathan MacKinnon (12)

Goals: Nathan MacKinnon (5)

Assists: Nathan MacKinnon (7)

GAA: Scott Wedgewood (2.40)

Coaches:

Pittsburgh Penguins: Dan Muse (2nd season)

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (11th season)