The Pittsburgh Penguins (26-12-5) battle the Colorado Avalanche (25-15-4) Friday night at 9 p.m. ET at Pepsi Center. We analyze the Penguins-Avalanche odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Penguins at Avalanche: Projected starting goalies
Tristan Jarry vs. Pavel Francouz
Jarry owns a 2.04 goals against average and .934 save percentage through 21 games (19 starts). None of his peripheral splits or analytics are so out of whack as to make him a “playing over his head” fade candidate. Jarry has logged a .918 SV% over his last five starts, and that stretch includes games against the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, a couple teams in Colorado’s high-scoring neighborhood. He’s been solid over recent road turns.
Francouz has registered a 2.30 GAA and .930 SV% over his first 20 NHL starts, including two from last season. The 29-year-old rookie stopped 32 of 33 shots in his last start (Saturday at the New York Islanders). He’s 4-2 with a .940 SV% over his last six efforts (albeit against a relatively weak set of foes). Francouz has benefited from a .881 mark when on the penalty kill. Anything over .870 is often a solid indicator of the player being headed for downward regression.
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Penguins at Avalanche: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1:45 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Pittsburgh 3, Colorado 2
Moneyline (ML)
The Avalanche (-161) are returning to home ice after a multi-game road trip – they are 1-4 over five previous games in that same situation. Colorado is 3-6-1 over its previous 10 games. While having solid offensive indicators, the Avalanche are too far out over their skis in ranking second in the league in scoring (3.6 goals per game). And Colorado has allowed 4.8 GPG over its last five home tilts. PITTSBURGH (+135) is the play.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Pittsburgh returns a profit of $13.50.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Away from home, the Penguins are 12-7 against the puck line. Five of the team’s last seven wins have been of the multi-goal variety, but Friday’s line – Pittsburgh (+1.5 -200) – draws a PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS on the UNDER 6.5 (-154). The low side is the lean but only at a much higher price.
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