Avalanche vs Penguins 3/24: O'Connor Returns, Malkin Out

On March 24, 2026, PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh hosts one of the most compelling matchups of the NHL's final stretch — the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins. What makes this game unmissable isn't just the standings implications. Both rosters are in flux: Colorado is welcoming back a key contributor after a season-long absence, while Pittsburgh faces a gut-punch with their veteran superstar sidelined. If you're deciding whether to tune in, track a fantasy lineup, or just want to understand what's at stake, this breakdown covers everything you need to know.

1. The Colorado Avalanche — NHL's Dominant Force

Team Overview

The Avalanche enter this game as the undisputed class of the Western Conference. Sitting at 46-13-10 with 102 points, Colorado is first in the Central Division, already clinched a playoff spot, and was the first team in the entire league to reach the 100-point mark this season. This is their ninth consecutive playoff appearance, anchored by their 2022 Stanley Cup championship. Head coach Jared Bednar has built a machine — and right now, that machine is firing on all cylinders.

Key Strengths

• Elite depth up front: The Avalanche aren't reliant on one line. Their top-six features speed, skill, and physicality.
• Playoff pedigree: Nine consecutive postseason appearances builds the kind of mental fortitude that shows up in close games.
• Trade deadline additions: Nazem Kadri and Brett Kulak were both acquired ahead of the March 6 deadline, giving Colorado an experienced postseason boost.
• Landeskog back: Gabriel Landeskog returned March 22 against Washington and scored a goal in overtime — an enormous lift for locker room morale.

Notable Concerns

• Colorado dropped three straight games in mid-March before righting the ship with wins over Chicago.
• Pittsburgh beat them 7-2 just last week at Ball Arena — a result that stings and lingers.

Read more on the Avalanche's roster returns ahead of this game at the Denver Post.

---

2. Logan O'Connor's Season Debut — Colorado's Wildcard Return

The Storyline

Few returns in the 2025-26 NHL season carry more emotional weight than Logan O'Connor's. The Avalanche forward is making his season debut after missing 69 games — the result of offseason hip surgery compounded by a secondary undisclosed issue that extended his absence deep into the year. His return isn't just sentimental; it's strategic.

Why O'Connor Matters

• Penalty kill specialist: O'Connor is widely regarded as one of Colorado's most reliable shorthanded weapons. His return immediately strengthens a unit that had been stretched thin.
• Line reshuffling: With O'Connor back alongside Ross Colton (who also returned after missing six games since a March 10 injury against Edmonton), Nazem Kadri was able to move to his natural center position — a lineup alignment that gives Colorado significantly more versatility.
• Energy and forechecking: O'Connor's game is built on effort and pressure. His presence changes how Colorado can attack defensively-structured teams like Pittsburgh.

What to Watch

O'Connor will be on a pitch count of sorts after nine-plus months away. Expect selective deployment — particularly on the penalty kill — rather than heavy offensive minutes. But even in a limited role, his presence signals Colorado's coaching staff is preparing for a playoff push with full depth.

MSN Sports breaks down how O'Connor's return shifts Colorado's momentum on the penalty kill.

---

3. The Pittsburgh Penguins — Resilient but Suddenly Shorthanded

Team Overview

The Penguins come in at 35-19-16 with 86 points, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh is very much a playoff team — and a dangerous one — but they've had to fight for every point this season. Head coach Mike Sullivan has kept this aging core competitive through strong goaltending and disciplined structure. But tonight, they face a significant obstacle.

Key Strengths

• Proven playoff identity: The Penguins' core has won Cups. They don't panic. They adapt.
• Hot recent form vs. Colorado: That 7-2 win last week wasn't a fluke — Pittsburgh outskated, outshot, and outplayed the Avalanche on their home ice.
• Goaltending depth: The Penguins' net has been a relative strength in keeping them in games where the offense has been inconsistent.

Notable Concerns

• Evgeni Malkin is out. Full stop. Pittsburgh's second-best player — who has 15 goals and 52 points in 50 games this season — is sidelined with an upper-body injury. He appeared to hurt his hand blocking a shot during Sunday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
• Malkin is in the final year of his contract, adding an off-ice weight to every missed game.
• Ville Koivunen was called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to fill Malkin's spot on the third line — a significant downgrade in production.

The Hockey News has the full Malkin injury update ahead of tonight's game.

---

4. Evgeni Malkin's Absence — Pittsburgh's Biggest Blow

The Impact

There is no soft way to say this: losing Evgeni Malkin for this game is a massive blow to Pittsburgh's chances. Malkin has been extraordinary this season — 52 points in 50 games for a 38-year-old is a reminder that he remains an elite playmaker at any age. Just last week, he scored two goals in his return from suspension during the Penguins' 7-2 demolition of Colorado.

Contract Context

With Malkin in the final year of his deal, every game he misses carries extra urgency. The Penguins need him healthy for a playoff run that could define what direction the franchise goes next. An injury now — even a day-to-day designation — is a worrying development for a team that can't afford to lose ground in a tight Metropolitan Division race.

Ville Koivunen Stepping Up

The AHL call-up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton slots into the third line in Malkin's place. Koivunen is a talented prospect, but asking him to fill Malkin's shoes — especially against the top team in the Western Conference — is an enormous ask. Pittsburgh will need its other veterans to carry a heavier offensive burden.

Full Penguins injury announcement via MSN Sports.

---

5. Gabriel Landeskog's Return — Colorado's Emotional Spark

The Comeback

Just two days before this game, on March 22, Gabriel Landeskog returned from a lower-body injury and scored a goal in Colorado's 3-2 overtime win over the Washington Capitals. The timing couldn't be better — the Avalanche captain returning in the final weeks of the regular season injects life into a roster that has spent months finding its rhythm without him.

Why It Matters for This Game

Landeskog's return shifts line combinations across the board in Colorado's favor. When a captain shows up and scores a goal in his first game back, it elevates every player around him. Expect his presence to be felt even in subtle ways — in the corners, in front of the net, and on the bench as an emotional anchor.

---

6. Head-to-Head Context — The 7-2 Loss Looms Large

Revenge Factor

Colorado has something to prove. Getting beaten 7-2 at home — by a team you have better records than in nearly every statistical category — is the kind of result that coaches reference in film sessions for weeks. Pittsburgh exposed Colorado's defensive breakdowns, and Malkin led the charge with two goals. Now, with Malkin out and O'Connor back, the Avalanche have a real opportunity to restore order.

Travel and Fatigue Factors

Colorado is the road team, traveling to Pittsburgh for a game that carries playoff-preparation importance. Resting key veterans while getting O'Connor and Colton meaningful game time will be a balancing act for Bednar's staff.

Full game preview with statistical breakdown at Yahoo Sports.

---

7. Nazem Kadri — The Trade Deadline X-Factor

Lineup Versatility

Acquired at the March 6 trade deadline, Kadri has been working himself into Colorado's system. O'Connor and Colton's returns allow Kadri to shift to center — his natural position — rather than playing wing as an accommodation. This is a meaningful upgrade. A center Kadri is more dangerous in the faceoff circle, more effective defensively, and more comfortable setting up plays for the players around him.

Playoff Pedigree

Kadri has been here before. A Stanley Cup champion with Colorado in 2022, he knows what this team is capable of — and what it takes to get there. His presence in the locker room and on the ice is a quiet stabilizer for a roster with legitimate Cup ambitions.

---

Comparison Summary

Category	Colorado Avalanche	Pittsburgh Penguins
Record	46-13-10 (102 pts)	35-19-16 (86 pts)
Division Standing	1st, Central	2nd, Metropolitan
Roster News (Today)	O'Connor + Colton return; Landeskog back Sunday	Malkin OUT; Koivunen called up
Last Meeting	Lost 2-7	Won 7-2
Playoff Status	Clinched (9th consecutive)	In contention, 2nd Wild Card range
Key Advantage	Roster depth, points lead, momentum	Home ice, recent head-to-head dominance

Bottom line: Colorado is the better team on paper — and increasingly on the ice. But Pittsburgh's home crowd, their 7-2 victory last week, and the gritty identity this Penguins group plays with make this far from a foregone conclusion. Malkin's absence, however, tilts the scales meaningfully toward Colorado.

---

FAQ

Is Logan O'Connor expected to play big minutes on his season debut?

No. After missing 69 games due to hip surgery and a secondary issue, O'Connor will likely be used selectively — particularly on the penalty kill, where he excels. Expect a limited but impactful role as Colorado eases him back into game shape ahead of the playoffs.

How serious is Evgeni Malkin's injury?

Pittsburgh has listed Malkin as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He appeared to hurt his hand blocking a shot during Sunday's Carolina game. While "day-to-day" leaves the door open for a quick return, he is definitively out for March 24's game against Colorado. Given that he's in the final year of his contract, the Penguins will be cautious about returning him before he's fully healthy.

Does Pittsburgh's 7-2 win over Colorado last week suggest the Penguins have their number?

One game — even a dominant one — doesn't establish a pattern. Colorado had a three-game losing streak around that timeframe and has since rebounded. More importantly, Colorado's lineup is now meaningfully different with Landeskog, O'Connor, and Colton all back. That 7-2 result also featured Malkin, who is now out. Context matters.

What are the playoff implications of this game?

For Colorado, the game is more about fine-tuning lineup combinations and building momentum heading into the postseason — they've already clinched. For Pittsburgh, every point matters. A loss tightens the pressure in the Metropolitan Division race, while a win (especially without Malkin) would be a significant confidence booster heading into April.

---

What to Watch For Tonight

• O'Connor's deployment: Which situations does Bednar use him in first? His penalty kill role will be the clearest signal of how ready Colorado views him.
• Kadri at center: With O'Connor back, Kadri shifts to his natural position. Watch how his line functions with improved line-matching.
• Koivunen's audition: The AHL call-up faces a trial by fire against the league's best team. How he handles the moment could shape Pittsburgh's perception of him as a future piece.
• Colorado's response to the 7-2 loss: Does the Avalanche come out with the structured, detail-oriented game Bednar demands — or do emotional responses lead to undisciplined play?
• Pittsburgh's goaltending: Without Malkin generating offense at his usual pace, the Penguins' net will need to be sharp to keep this close. A goaltending performance would be Pittsburgh's best path to a win.

This is an NHL game worth watching in full. Roster storylines, standings implications, and genuine uncertainty on both sides make March 24, 2026 a standout night on the hockey calendar.