DENVER – The Penguins stood up to Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and a Colorado Avalanche club that is the betting favorite to claim the Stanley Cup.
But in their 3-2 loss Saturday at Ball Arena, the Penguins were done in by a sharp Avalanche goalie and a pair of Penguins letdowns after they got tying goals.
Less than 48 hours after an intense, physical game against the Minnesota Wild, the Penguins had plenty of juice from the jump Saturday. The players getting the day off here in Denver on Friday had to have helped. The Penguins had the Avalanche on their heels for much of the first period, firing 17 shots on goal.
