Avalanche vs. Penguins NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - March 16

The Colorado Avalanche (44-12-9) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-18-15) on Monday, March 16, with the Avalanche coming off a loss and the Penguins a win. The bookmakers have made the Avalanche solid favorites at -218 on the moneyline, and the Penguins are at +180.

Colorado's last game was a 3-1 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets on March 14. Nathan MacKinnon (one assist) and Martin Necas (one goal) were among the three Avalanche players who recorded one point each.

Pittsburgh won on the road in its last game on March 14, 4-3 over the Utah Mammoth. Yegor Chinakhov (two assists) and Parker Wotherspoon (two assists) were among the four Penguins skaters who collected two points each in that outing.

Get ready for this matchup by checking out our prediction for who will win the game in Monday's hockey action.

Avalanche vs. Penguins Predictions & Pick

For insights on the upcoming game between the Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins, computer-derived moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, per Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Avalanche 3 - Penguins 1
• Pick OU: Under 6.5 (Dunkel projecting 4.01 goals)
  

Pick with the best in the business! Get free picks for every game, every week at the Dunkel Index.

Avalanche vs. Penguins Moneylines

Grab a peek below at the most up-to-date moneylines for the Avalanche-Penguins matchup.

• Favorite: Avalanche (-218)
• Underdog: Penguins (+180)

Avalanche Betting Insights

• In the 63 times this season the Avalanche have been favored on the moneyline, they have gone 43-20 in those games.
• When it has played with moneyline odds of -218 or shorter, Colorado has put together a 22-5 record (winning 81.5% of its games).
• The Avalanche have a 68.6% chance (based on the moneyline's implied probability) to win this contest.
• Colorado's 65 matches this season have finished above this game's total of 6.5 goals 28 times.

Penguins Betting Insights

• The Penguins have been an underdog in 37 games this season, and won 18 (48.6%).
• Pittsburgh has played as an underdog of +180 or more one time this season and won that game.
• The Penguins have a 35.7% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Pittsburgh has played 34 games this season that ended with more than 6.5 goals.

Avalanche Key Stats

• Colorado is the highest-scoring squad in the NHL, with 244 total goals (3.8 per game, on 6.6 assists per contest).
• Defensively, the Avalanche have been the stingiest squad in NHL play, conceding 158 total goals (just 2.4 per game).
• Its goal differential (+86) tops the league.
• The 34 power-play goals the Avalanche have scored this season (to rank 22nd in the NHL) have come on 211 power-play chances.
• Colorado ranks 29th in the league with a 16.11% power-play conversion rate.
• The Avalanche have scored one shorthanded goal this season.
• Colorado's 82.7% penalty-kill success rate is the sixth-best in the league.
• Colorado wins the ninth-highest percentage of faceoffs in the NHL, 51.1%.
• The Avalanche shoot 11.1% as a team (16th in the league).

Penguins Key Stats

• With 222 goals (3.4 per game), Pittsburgh has the NHL's eighth-best offense.
• The Penguins have one of the best defenses in the league, allowing 192 total goals (2.9 per game), eighth in the NHL.
• It has the seventh-best goal differential in the league at +30.
• With 47 power-play goals (on 188 chances), the Penguins are seventh-best in the NHL.
• Pittsburgh's power-play percentage (25) puts the team fourth in the league.
• The Penguins have five shorthanded goals (13th in league).
• Pittsburgh's has the second-best penalty-kill percentage (84.18%).
• At 48.5%, Pittsburgh has the league's 22nd-ranked faceoff win percentage.
• The Penguins' 11.6% shooting percentage is ninth in the league.