Game 29 Preview: Penguins @ Avalanche

The Avs took home the extra point in a tight overtime thriller against Minnesota Monday night. The game was the second game of a home-and-home which came on the tail end of a four game trip. The Avs will get just one more home game before heading back on the road for three games. That game will come Wednesday in a late night nationally televised game with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Pens have hit some hard times of late. They have picked up only six points in the last seven games since they  last played the Avs on November 19th and have seen themselves slip out of the playoff picture in the East. On top of the team's struggles of late, they will have to play with heavy hearts Wednesday after the news that forward Pascal Dupuis will be forced into an early retirement due to a blood clot issue. The announcement comes as a major shock and blow to the Penguins and their fans as Dupuis has been an integral part of the Pittsburgh line-up since 2008. The Penguins will have to move forward without their teammate and attempt to return to their winning ways against the Avalanche Wednesday night.

LINES

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Duchene

Tanguay-Mitchell-Iginla

Martinsen-Soderberg-Comeau

McLeod-Wagner-Skille

Beauchemin-Johnson

Holden-Barrie

Gormley-Guenin

Varlamov

Berra

Scratches: Redmond, Grigorenko

NOTES

- Dupuis ends his career having played for four teams; the Atlanta Thrashers and the Avs last three opponents (Penguins, Wild, Rangers).

- Despite still being a major factor in the pace and control of the game, Nathan MacKinnon is without a point in his last five games.

- After a slow start, Sidney Crosby now has points in seven of his last eight games.

GAME INFO

Game time: 8pm MT

TV: NBCSN