The Penguins meet up with one of the best offenses in the NHL tonight, hosting the Colorado Avalanche at PPG Paints Arena.
The Pens have won five of their last six games and four in a row at home. The Avalanche have won three of their last four after a three-game losing streak. They shut out New Jersey the last time out, 4-0 on Sunday.
The Avs are led by forward Nathan MacKinnon, who has 9 goals and 32 assists, and Mikko Rantanen, with 15 goals and 22 assists. Colorado is 16-13 and in fourth place in the Central Division, while the Penguins are 12-13-4 and in a seventh place tie with the Flyers in the Metro Division.
Coach Mike Sullivan says the Penguins improvement in the last two weeks has been led by the core group of veterans, who are showing the younger guys how to play through the rigors of the NHL.
The game features another hometown matchup of Sidney Crosby and the Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon. Both grew up in Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia, and they are training partners in the offseason. Sullivan says Crosby has been a mentor for the young Colorado star.
Crosby says his summers spent training with MacKinnon have helped him maintain his form as an older player.
At practice yesterday, forward Philip Thomasino skated in a non-contact jersey after missing Saturday’s game against Toronto with an unspecified upper body injury. He’s considered day-to-day for a return to action.
Tonight’s game faces off shortly after 7 o’clock. The pregame begins at 6 on 92.5 FM, U92.
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