The Colorado Avalanche come roaring into Pittsburgh for a game Thursday against a Penguins team staring at a disastrous start to the season.
Colorado is one of three teams with no losses, regulation or otherwise, to this point. It is outscoring opponents by more than double, 28-12.
This will be the Avalanche’s fifth road game out of seven, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem. With their 7-4 win Tuesday against the Islanders in New York, they set an NHL record with 15 straight road wins, dating to last season.
Colorado is hardly smug, or satisfied, after its strong start.
“We are fortunate to be 6-0. The guys realize that,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “We are still trying to improve.”
That might be a daunting thought for upcoming opponents.
The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, then lost in the first round last spring to Seattle. The only carryover might be dogged determination.
“I think it’s the confidence and character in our group,” said Avalanche forward Ryan Johansen, who scored twice against the Islanders. “It’s the belief. That’s a big positive in our group right now, just seeing that belief within the group right now. We keep pressing on when the bounce doesn’t go our way, and that’s a great sign.”
When Colorado and Pittsburgh meet, the obvious matchup to watch is that of centers and team captains Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche and Sidney Crosby of the Penguins. They are both from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, good friends who train together in the offseason.
MacKinnon’s seven points (four goals) rank third on his team. Crosby also ranks third on his team with six points (three goals).
Crosby has captained Pittsburgh to three Stanley Cups, but that is looking like the distant past at this point.
The Penguins missed the playoffs last spring for the first time since 2006, and despite a lot of turnover in the offseason that led to a lot of optimism among the players, their start has been trying.
Pittsburgh has lost four of six and three in a row, including a 4-1 defeat Tuesday to Dallas. The Stars scored four unanswered goals after the Penguins scored first in the opener of a four-game homestand.
A big disappointment has been Pittsburgh’s power play, which ranks near the bottom of the league at a 12.5 percent success rate and was 0-for-3 Tuesday.
“We had some looks,” with the man advantage against the Stars, Crosby said. “With the power play, it’s a pretty fine line. Bury an ugly (goal) and we’re not talking about it. … I think the main thing is that you’re getting chances.”
The Penguins will have to make at least one lineup change. Defenseman John Ludvig, who made his NHL debut Tuesday, had to be helped off the ice after a mid-ice collision and is not expected to play.
Pittsburgh is doing its best to keep its collective chin up.
“We’ve got a lot of hockey in front of us,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “There are a lot of areas we’ve got to get better (in) to set ourselves up for success.We can’t get discouraged. We’ve just got to get determined and get back to (work).”
–Field Level Media
