Denver, Col. - The Colorado Avalanche play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their third game of the late-season homestand. After two dominant games to start off the six-game homestand, they'll be looking to carry that momentum into Tuesday's matchup.

This is the first time Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia natives Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon will be playing against each other since helping Team Canada secure the championship in the Four Nations Face-Off tournament just a few weeks ago. Crosby captained Team Canada, and MacKinnon was named the tournament MVP.

Both players were asked about playing against each other, given their chemistry on the ice and friendship off of the ice.

It's been close to 30 times now, 25 times [playing against each other], so it's obviously very cool, and I really enjoy it. Obviously, I'll play against him a lot tonight, and he's one of the best in the league, so I've gotta be careful, but also, I've gotta play my best and help this team.

- MacKinnon on playing against Crosby .

The way he skates, shoots, sees the ice. Those are all things, from playing against him, you get to experience. I think just, you know, the way he works too, you see he puts the time in and he takes a lot of pride in it. He's a guy that can just produce offense in a lot of different ways, and on top of that, he's good at defending. He takes that seriously, too.

- Crosby on what impresses him about MacKinnon as a player.

Watching two people who have become close and admired each other over the years play against one another is an incredible experience, and just like any other fan would, Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar looks at it as an exciting event to watch.

We play Nate against other team's top guys a lot, and it allows us to have Cale [Makar] and [Devon Toews] out with them on the ice...but we also use him in other situations against other guys to try to create some more offense. So there will be situations when he's going to play a lot against [Sidney Crosby] and his line and others that we might bump him away for a little bit, but it makes sense with the makeup of our team over the years to do that. And I think those top guys, they like that challenge, too, and if it's not working for some, whatever reason, then you've got to be willing to adjust. 
I'm no different than any other fan. I like watching them play against each other.

- Jared Bednar on playing MacKinnon against Crosby.

Starting Goaltenders

Both head coaches have confirmed their starting goaltenders ahead of tonight's matchup.

Where/How to Find the Game

Puck Drop: 7:10 pm Mountain Time

Local Broadcast (Colorado/Pittsburgh): Altitude TV, Altitude+, SportsNet Pittsburgh

Out-of-Network Broadcast: ESPN+

Local Radio (Colorado): Altitude Sports Radio