Preview: Crosby, Penguins play MacKinnon, Avs
Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images
Another Nova Scotia showdown!
The Colorado Avalanche will debut a new toy tonight at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with newly acquired Ryan Lindgren expected to draw into the lineup to face Sidney Crosby and his gaggle of aging Pens.
With Colorado gearing up for a playoff run and Pittsburgh preparing to sell parts at this week’s trade deadline, these two teams are heading in opposite directions - making tonight a game the Avalanche need to show up for and take the two points they’re expected to win on paper.
Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon face-off once again when the Pens visit the Avs tonight! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/3fLiQ5x6AA— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) March 4, 2025
Colorado Avalanche
Fresh off a league-leading 7th trade of the season, Colorado will once again be fitting new parts into its lineup. Lindgren is expected to contribute right away as a second or third-pair defender - an on-paper upgrade over outgoing Calvin de Haan, though his advanced stats this season beg to differ - and on the penalty kill, while Vesey will likely slot into a bottom-six role and see some time on the PK himself when he draws into the lineup.
The team as a whole struggled on the road out of the Four Nations break but sits 2-0 so far on their homestand and will be looking to turn that into a true winning streak to gain ground on the Minnesota Wild in their race for third place in the Central Division. Val Nichushkin’s return for this homestand has paid immediate dividends, and he’ll need to keep the train rolling as the secondary scorer this team has desperately needed in his various absences this season.
On the back end, Josh Manson remains out for at least one more game. Lindgren will likely see many of Manson’s minutes, though Oliver Kylington remains on the second pair on paper. Lindgren, Kylington, and Sam Malinski will all be looking to prove they belong in the lineup when Manson returns, possibly as soon as Thursday.
Projected Lineup
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin NecasJonathan Drouin — Casey Mittelstadt — Valeri NichushkinRoss Colton — Jack Drury — Joel KivirantaMiles Wood — Parker Kelly — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Cale MakarSamuel Girard — Oliver KylingtonRyan Lindgren— Sam Malinski
Pittsburgh Penguins
These are not the Penguins of 10 years ago - or even five - though some of the names remain the same. Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson remain dangerous, elite talents, but the supporting cast has dropped off significantly and age curves have taken away some of what made each of those guys elite.
Despite all that, if Pittsburgh could have gotten decent goaltending this year they may have pushed for a playoff spot. That did not happen. Tristan Jarry has been terrible, and Alex Nedeljkovic hasn’t been much better. Ned will draw in tonight, with Jarry on the bench for the first time after a stint in the AHL.
The Pens as a whole have lost six of their last seven games, and given up at least three goals in all seven. They’ll have to defend a whole lot better to keep the Avalanche from scoring at least that many.
Projected Lineup
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan RustAnthony Beauvillier - Evgeni Malkin - Philip TomasinoDanton Heinen - Kevin Hayes - Emil BemstromBlake Lizotte - Cody Glass - Noel Acciari
Ryan Shea - Kris LetangMatt Grzelcyk - Erik KarlssonVladislav Kolyachonok - Vincent Desharnais
Goaltenders
Scott Wedgewood vs Alex Nedeljkovic is a fairly even matchup statistically, with Ned’s .892 save percentage slightly trailing Wedgie’s .898, though Wedgewood’s 2.78 GAA looks much better than Nedeljkovic’s 3.18 since it starts with a two, not a three....
Want the trending hockey news in your inbox daily?.
Just add your email, and we'll start sending you the most important hockey news of the day.
