Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. Colorado Avalanche GameDay, TV/Radio, And Preview

With their 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-6-4, 44 points) seek to make it two in a row tonight when they welcome the Colorado Avalanche to the Steel City.

Nicolino DiBenedetto reported on Yahoo Sports that while Sidney Crosby returned to practice on Wednesday, Beau Bennett has contracted the mumps. Meanwhile, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and defensemen Olli Maatta and Robert Bortuzzo are in isolation as they are being tested for the illness.

After Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss at home to the St. Louis Blues, Patrick Roy’s squad (10-13-7, 27 points) begins a three-game road trip this evening against the Pens. The Avalanche is 4-6-4 on the road this season.

Tonight is the first of two matchups this season when these teams faceoff at center ice. Last season, they each won a game in the other’s building. They scored a combined five goals on 121 shots in their two meetings.

When: Thursday, Dec. 18

Puck Drop: 7:05 p.m.

Site: CONSOL Energy Center

Television: ROOT Sports Network

Announcers: Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey

Radio Coverage: 105.9 FM – The X and the Penguins Radio Network

Announcers: Mike Lange and Phil Bourque

Live Video Steam: NHL GameCenter LIVE

Audio Stream: Penguins Radio 24/7

Sirius XM Satellite Radio: XM Channel 222, XM Internet 942

Odds: According to VegasInsider.com, oddsmakers currently have the moneyline on the two teams listed as Pittsburgh -230 / Colorado +185 with the Over/Under at 5.5.

Avalanche center Matt Duchene leads the team with 10 goals while defenseman Tyson Barrie has contributed 17 assists. Left wing Gabriel Landeskog has five points in his last four road contests.

More from Pittsburgh Penguins

• Pittsburgh Penguins: A Look Back at 2019
• Penguins Will Continue to Persevere Despite Injuries
• Penguins: Alex Galchenyuk May Finally Start Meeting Expectations
• Penguins’ Three Keys to Help End Islanders’ Point Streak
• Penguins: Without Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin Will Be an MVP Candidate

Goaltender Calvin Pickard gets the call this evening for Colorado, and is 4-5-1 with a 2.42 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage this season.

Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin has three goals and six assists in six career games against the Avalanche. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound center has recorded multiple points in three of those six matchups.

As of Wednesday morning, the report is that Thomas Greiss is expected to start between the pipes. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound goaltender is 4-1-0 with a 1.81 GAA and .947 save percentage in his career against the Avalanche.

UpDate: WTAE‘s Ryan Recker is reporting on Twitter that Fleury has tested negative for mumps and has been cleared to play tonight while the team’s web site is reporting that Greiss is now in isolation and being tested as precaution.

The Penguins recalled goaltender Jeff Zatkoff on Wednesday from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound netminder has played in 15 AHL contests with WBS this season, posting a 9-5-1 record and a 1.89 goals-against-average. Zatkoff, 27, also has a .918 save percentage with one shutout.

Up Next: The Black and Gold wrap up their three-game homestand on Saturday, Dec. 20 when they host the Florida Panthers (13-8-8, 34 points). The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.

From The Clipboard: Pittsburgh is 19-2-1 this season when holding the opposition to three or fewer goals…Brian Dumoulin and Bryan Rust on Monday became the first pair of Penguins to score their first career NHL goals in the same contest since Kris Letang and Jordan Staal on Oct. 12, 2006…Forward Steve Downie has two goals and three assists in his past four games.