Avalanche vs. Penguins, Game 7: Lines, Starting Goalies & How to Watch

The Colorado Avalanche will look to win their seventh consecutive game to start the season on Thursday, as they’re in Pittsburgh to take on the struggling Penguins.

With a win over the Penguins, the Avalanche will move to 7-0 on the season, which would give them the best start in franchise history since moving to Colorado.

Although many were looking for him to get a night off, it looks like the Avalanche will go back to Alexandar Georgiev in net. He’s started every game this season, but has looked a little shakier the last two starts. On the radio Wednesday, Jared Bednar said he would talk to Georgiev, as well as goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila, to get an idea of when they want to give him a night off. I’m guessing Georgiev, who is a big-time competitor, is not happy with how he’s performed the last two games and wants a chance to get back on track.

Don’t expect any other lineup changes for Colorado. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is coming off a three point performance against the Islanders, and the Penguins are well aware of what he can bring.

“He’s a special player,” conceded Penguins coach Mike Sullivan.

Expect to hear A LOT of Nathan MacKinnon/Sidney Crosby talk on the broadcast, which is typical when these two teams meet. Pittsburgh won both matchups last year, so MacKinnon might be motivated to get a win against his good friend.

The Penguins made big changes over the summer, bringing in a lot of veterans to play in the bottom six, and acquiring Erik Karlsson on defense. It hasn’t worked out early in the season, to say the least. Former Avalanche forwards Lars Eller and Matt Nieto are two of the veterans who joined the Penguins, and they’ve combined for just two assists (all by Eller) to start the year. Depth scoring was an issue for them last year, and has been to start the year.

As they usually do, their big guns are holding up their end of the bargain. Evgeni Malkin, who has historically performed very well against Colorado, leads the team with 8 points and 23 shots on goal through six games. Karlsson, who won the Norris Trophy last year, has four points, but hasn’t quite gelled on the powerplay with his new teammates.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Valeri Nichushkin

Tomas Tatar – Ryan Johansen – Mikko Rantanen

Miles Wood – Ross Colton – Jonathan Drouin

Andrew Cogliano – Fredrik Olofsson – Logan O’Connor

Defense

Devon Toews – Cale Makar

Bowen Byram –  Sam Girard

Jack Johnson – Josh Manson

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Ivan Prosvetov

Expected Pittsburgh Penguins Lineup

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Reilly Smith-Evgeni Malkin-Rickard Rakell

Drew O’Connor-Lars Eller-Radim Zohorna

Matt Nieto-Noel Acciari-Jeff Carter

Defense:

Ryan Graves-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-Chad Ruhwedel

Goalies:

Tristan Jarry

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 28.6%, 7th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 92.6%, 4th in NHL

Pittsburgh Penguins Power Play: 12.5%, 23rd in NHL

Pittsburgh Penguins Penalty Kill: 82.4%, 12th in NHL

How to Watch

TV: Altitude TV, ESPN+

Radio: Altitude Radio 92.5 FM

Game Time: 5:00 PM MST