The Penguins vs Avalanche preview for Friday centers on a road-weary Pittsburgh club trying to slow down a Colorado offense that has outscored opponents by 10 goals this season. The Penguins (3-3-1) visit the Avalanche (4-2-1) at Ball Arena in Denver with puck drop set for 9 p.m. ET, the opener of a back-to-back that sends Pittsburgh to face the Vegas Golden Knights the following night. Colorado enters having won four of its first seven games and sits at 2-1-1 at home this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins Vs Colorado Avalanche Game Information
- Date: Friday, Oct. 16
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, Altitude Sports, KTVD-TV (My20)
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
How Have The Penguins Looked On This Road Trip?
Pittsburgh is 1-2-1 away from home and arrives in Denver having dropped its last outing 5-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks despite two goals from captain Sidney Crosby. The Chicago loss opened what Pittsburgh’s own coverage called the team’s first major road trip of the season, according to Yahoo Sports. Goaltender Sergei Murashov allowed a late goal in that game that cost Pittsburgh at least a point, per the same report. The Penguins have scored 24 goals and allowed 21 for a plus-three differential, with 65 total points produced as a team and a 45.6% faceoff rate through seven games.
What Does Colorado’s Offense Bring Into This Game?
Nathan MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in goals (5), assists (7) and points (12), anchoring an attack that has scored 31 goals against just 21 allowed, according to FOX Sports. That plus-10 differential is more than triple Pittsburgh’s scoring margin. Colorado’s shooting percentage sits at 14.5% on 214 total shots, and the team has posted an .886 save percentage on defense. For Pittsburgh, Erik Karlsson paces the scoring sheet with a team-high seven assists and seven points, while Nick Robertson leads the club with four goals.
Who Is Banged Up Heading Into Friday?
Colorado’s injury list includes forward Nicolas Roy (day-to-day, lower body) and winger Zachary L’Heureux (day-to-day, upper body), both carrying a return date tied to Friday’s game. Logan O’Connor remains out on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and isn’t projected back until Oct. 25, while Georgii Merkulov is also on injured reserve with an undisclosed issue. Pittsburgh is missing three players to injured reserve: defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk (lower body) and Ryan Graves (knee), plus forward Justin Brazeau (lower body). None of the three is listed as available for Friday’s game.
Who Is Projected To Start In Goal?
Arturs Silovs is the probable starting goaltender for Pittsburgh, while Mackenzie Blackwood is projected to get the start for Colorado, according to official NHL data. Both designations remain projections until the lineups are finalized before puck drop. Pittsburgh’s goaltending tandem has posted a combined .898 save percentage this season, slightly ahead of Colorado’s .886 mark, even though both teams have allowed an identical 21 goals against.
What To Watch
Pittsburgh’s ability to generate offense without Brazeau and van Riemsdyk in the lineup will be tested against a Colorado defense that has allowed just 176 shots against through its opening stretch. The Penguins also have to manage the physical toll of a back-to-back, with the Vegas Golden Knights waiting Saturday. For Colorado, the return timelines for Roy and L’Heureux line up with Friday’s date, so their availability for the lineup is worth tracking before puck drop. The two teams have not yet met this season, making Friday the first data point in a series that continues later in the year.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
