Avalanche vs Penguins Prediction 3/16/26 NHL Picks Today

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche meet Monday in NHL action at the Ball Arena. Here’s an Avalanche vs. Penguins prediction. This article will include an Avalanche vs. Penguins pick.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Golden Knights, beat the Mammoth, and play the Hurricanes next. The Penguins have lost 5 of their last 7 games.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.36 goals per game and are scoring 25 percent of their power play opportunities. Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 27 goals, Evgeni Malkin has 40 assists, and Bryan Rust has 150 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 2.91 goals per game and are killing 84.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Arturs Silovs has allowed 88 goals on 822 shots faced, while Tristan Jarry has given up 36 goals on 396 shots.

Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview

The Colorado Avalanche lost to the Jets, beat the Kraken, and will play the Stars next. The Avalanche has won 8 of their last 11 games.

The Colorado Avalanche is averaging 3.75 goals per game and is scoring on 16.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 44 goals, Martin Necas has 49 assists, and Cale Makar has 171 shots on goal. Defensively, the Colorado Avalanche are allowing 2.43 goals per game and are killing 82.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Scott Wedgewood has given up 75 goals on 914 shots faced, and Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 64 goals on 694 shots.

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Avalanche have won each of their last five home games following a road loss.
• The Penguins have lost five of their last six night games.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in five of their last six home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Avalanche have won the third period in eight of their last nine home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win

• The Penguins have won each of their last eight games following a road win.
• The Avalanche have lost seven of their last eight night games at Ball Arena.
• The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last eight night games following a road win.
• The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight night games at Ball Arena.
• The Penguins have won the second period in eight of their last nine games against Western Conference opponents when tied after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Penguins’ last five games has gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Avalanche’s last four night games against Metropolitan Division opponents has gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Avalanche’s last 12 home games against the Penguins.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Penguins’ last 10 night games at Ball Arena.

Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts

• Martin Necas has scored at least one goal in each of the Avalanche’s last seven night games.
• Nathan MacKinnon has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Avalanche’s last nine home games against the Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts

• Evgeni Malkin has recorded an assist in each of his last four appearances with the Penguins as underdogs against Central Division opponents.
• Sidney Crosby has scored at least one goal in four of his last five road appearances against the Avalanche.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals per game this season (3.75).
• The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals against per game this season (2.43).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 2nd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (84.18%).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 4th in the league in power play percentage this season (25.00%).

Avalanche vs Penguins Prediction

The Penguins have had success on the road this season and the offense has shown flashes even without Crosby. However, the Penguins have been hit or miss with their defensive effort as of late and the Avs have been a buzz saw on their home ice. It’s just hard to bet against the Avalanche at home, especially when the opponent is undermanned. I understand getting a playoff-caliber team as a big underdog is intriguing, but I’m going to back the Avs at home and I’ll lay the PL to shave down the price.