Can the Colorado Avalanche Stay Unbeaten Against Penguins?

As things stand, the Colorado Avalanche are one of three teams in the NHL without a blemish on their record.

Standing at 6-0-0, the Avalanche are tied for second in the NHL with the Boston Bruins with 12 points, sitting behind only the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights, who are 7-0-0.

That includes wins against four playoff teams from last year, including the Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, Seattle Kraken and New York Islanders.

The Avalanche earned their sixth win of the season with a 7-4 thumping of the usually defensively-sound Islanders on Tuesday night.

“We’ve done a good job to start the year,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said after the team’s win over last year’s Eastern Conference finalist Hurricanes.

“I’m happy with the results, but I know that it’s nowhere near as good as we can play. We’re going to keep pushing to get there as quick and as fast as we can, to get to the top of our game and then be able to maintain it, and then really hone in on the habits.”

Their perfect record will be put on the line on Thursday night in a clash with the star-studded Pittsburgh Penguins.

While their 2-4-0 does not suggest it, the Penguins will present a tough challenge.

Star center Evgeni Malkin is leading the way with four goals and eight points in six games.

Franchise face Sidney Crosby also has three goals and six points in six games this season.

Pittsburgh also boasts a star duo on the blue line in Kris Letang and 2022-23 Norris Trophy-winner Erik Karlsson.

As things stand right now, the Avalanche are -140 to beat the Penguins on Thursday night.

And Denver natives are able to bet on their hometown team thanks to the latest Colorado gambling laws.

The Avalanche have a few things to exploit en route to a possible seventh win of the campaign.

Where the Penguins’ struggles lie is in the net.

Primary starting goaltender Tristan Jarry is 1-3-0 with a .892 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average.

Backup Alex Nedelkjovic has played well when called on, though, sporting a 1-1-0 record with a .914 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average.

The Penguins sit in the middle of the pack in shots against per game (21st), goals for per game (22nd) and goals against per game (15th) while putting up the third-most shots per game in the NHL.

Colorado has been the complete opposite, sitting in the Top 3 in almost every major statistical category.

Alexandar Georgiev is leading the way with stellar play in goal, going 6-0-0 with a .930 save percentage and a 1.98 goals-against average.

He is one of three goaltenders in the NHL with six or more starts and the only one without a loss on his record.

Mikko Rantanen leads the way offensively with five goals and 12 points in six games so far this season.

He is fourth in the league in points and tied for sixth in the league in goals.

Cale Makar also leads NHL defensemen in points with nine.