The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, October 16, 2026, and this matchup could produce some excellent fantasy hockey opportunities. But with Nathan MacKinnon leading Colorado’s explosive offense and Sidney Crosby looking to build on his latest two-goal performance, which players offer the greatest upside?
Colorado enters the game averaging an impressive 4.43 goals per game, while Pittsburgh has produced 3.43. Both teams have offensive firepower, but their early-season scoring trends tell different stories.
MacKinnon and Martin Necas headline an Avalanche attack that can overwhelm opponents through speed and sustained offensive pressure. Pittsburgh counters with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson, although the Penguins’ top-line chemistry remains a concern.
What interests me most isn’t simply whether Colorado can outscore Pittsburgh. It’s how each team’s power-play deployment, defensive matchups and goaltending decisions could influence fantasy production.
I’ll break down the most important players, identify potential breakout opportunities, examine both teams’ scoring trends and explain why I favour one side in my Penguins vs. Avalanche score prediction.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche Game Information
Friday’s regular-season game at Ball Arena in Denver starts at 9:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. CT and 7:00 p.m. MT.
Broadcast availability can change and regional restrictions may apply. Check your provider shortly before puck drop.
Through October 14, Pittsburgh is 3-3-1 (seven points) with 24 goals for and 21 against. Colorado is 4-2-1 (nine points) with 31 for and 21 against. Both allow 3.00 goals per game, but the Avalanche score one more goal per game. I prefer Colorado’s finishing talent, though seven games are a small sample.
NHL Fantasy Players to Watch in Penguins vs. Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon is my top fantasy option. His 53 goals and 127 points in 2025-26 established an extraordinary baseline, and his speed, shot volume and puck-carrying create multiple routes to points. He’s my highest-ceiling player.
Martin Necas benefits when opponents concentrate on MacKinnon. His 100-point season and two-goal performance against Dallas on October 13 strengthen his case. Artturi Lehkonen is an appealing net-front complement.
Cale Makar offers elite defenseman upside, but verify his availability following a recent personal absence. Colorado hired Brett McLean as an assistant coach on October 15. Watch for deployment changes, though none is confirmed.
For Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby scored twice against Chicago on October 13, yet his line with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell has struggled to sustain offence. Their chemistry matters. Evgeni Malkin could benefit from secondary matchups, while Erik Karlsson offers assists and shots from the blue line. Ben Kindel and Nicholas Robertson warrant deeper-league attention.
Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood and Pittsburgh’s Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov are the goalie options to monitor. Neither starting assignment is confirmed.
NHLTradeRumor.com Fantasy Matchup Projection
My highest single-game range goes to MacKinnon at 1–3 points. Necas, Makar, Crosby and Malkin have multi-point upside, but actual results depend on ice time, matchups and special-teams usage.
- Record / points
- 3-3-1 / 7
- Goals for
- 24
- Goals against
- 21
- Goals against per game
- 3.00
- Power play
- 16.7%
- Penalty kill
- 89.5%
- Record / points
- 4-2-1 / 9
- Goals for
- 31
- Goals against
- 21
- Goals against per game
- 3.00
- Offensive advantage
- +1.00 G/GP
- Power play
- 20.0%
- Penalty kill
- 82.4%
Early-season sample: seven games per team. The +1.00 goals/game edge is Colorado’s advantage over Pittsburgh; it does not predict this game’s margin. Source: 2026–27 team statistics.
Pittsburgh’s power play sits at 16.7%, compared with 20.0% for Colorado. The Penguins have the stronger early penalty kill, 89.5% versus 82.4%. First-unit opportunities matter most to me.
Their two March meetings were wild: Pittsburgh won 7-2 in Denver on March 16, before Colorado won 6-2 in Pittsburgh on March 24. Colorado is 2-1-1 at Ball Arena this season. Past results don’t guarantee another shootout.
Two goals in Chicago; shooting opportunities and power-play rebounds matter.
Secondary scoring can exploit a fast-paced, chance-trading game.
Point shots and passing support multiple fantasy categories.
Colorado’s highest-upside offensive engine in transition and on the man advantage.
Speed and finishing can convert MacKinnon’s entries into chances.
Strong point-production baseline; verify availability and PP role.
These projections assume the player dresses and receives meaningful minutes. Point ranges are editorial estimates, not guarantees. Final lines, special teams and starting goalies are subject to confirmation.
Top Five 2025–26 Penguins and Avalanche Fantasy Scorers
NHLTradeRumor.com Scoring Index: Each player’s point total is indexed against his team’s leading scorer. This visualization describes past production and is not a future projection. Calculated as player points ÷ team-leader points × 100. Mantha and Nichushkin appear here for their 2025–26 scoring, not as current members of these teams.
The bars index each player against his own team’s 2025-26 leader. Mantha and Nichushkin have since departed, so this is historical context, not a current-roster ranking or future projection.
Injuries and Absences That Could Affect Fantasy Value
Colorado lists Logan O’Connor on long-term injured reserve, along with availability concerns involving Nicolas Roy, Zachary L’Heureux and Georgii Merkulov. Parker Kelly, Fyodor Svechkov or Gavin Brindley could receive more minutes without guaranteed points. Makar’s personal absence should not be misreported as an injury. MacKinnon returned after a facial injury scare against Dallas.
Pittsburgh’s injury report includes Trevor van Riemsdyk and Justin Brazeau (lower body) and Ryan Graves (knee). Available defenders may shoulder more work. Andrei Kuzmenko returned after a personal absence this week. None of these updates confirms Friday’s exact combinations or power-play groups.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche Fantasy Hockey Prediction
MY SCORE PREDICTION: Pittsburgh Penguins 3 – Colorado Avalanche 5
I favour Colorado because MacKinnon and Necas can generate chances at five-on-five without needing a parade to the penalty box. Crosby, Malkin and Karlsson can keep Pittsburgh competitive, but Colorado has the higher fantasy ceiling.
Goaltending adds volatility. March’s 7-2 Pittsburgh win and 6-2 Colorado win show how quickly this matchup can swing. My eight-goal score is an editorial forecast, not a certainty.
What I’m watching more than the final score: whether Robertson or Kindel moves into a more valuable offensive role, whether Crosby’s line begins driving play, and whether Colorado’s new assistant changes power-play deployment. These usage changes can outlast one game.
How to Watch Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche
Friday, October 16: 9:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. CT / 7:00 p.m. MT at Ball Arena, Denver. The NHL lists SportsNet Pittsburgh, Altitude and KTVD in the U.S., with Sportsnet+ and TVA Sports on its Canadian game listing. Eligible out-of-market U.S. viewers may have ESPN+. Radio: 105.9 The X (Pittsburgh) and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM / 950 AM (Colorado).
Regional blackouts can prevent a stream where another broadcaster owns local rights. Verify listings before puck drop.
Explore the Pittsburgh Penguins TV schedule, Colorado Avalanche TV schedule and 2026–27 NHL point leaders. While you’re here, join our NHL Fantasy Hockey Pool to test your GM skills against other hockey fans and compete for ultimate bragging rights.
Enjoying our trade coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to catch breaking rumors first.
