K’Andre Miller had tied it 5-5 for Carolina at 17:09 of the third period when his shot from the right circle took a deflection in front.

Jackson Blake had a goal and two assists, Nikolaj Ehlers had three assists, and Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Walker each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (43-19-6), who lead the Penguins by eight points for first place in the Metropolitan Division and the Buffalo Sabres by two points for first in the Eastern Conference. Frederik Andersen made 30 saves. 

The Hurricanes were coming off a 5-1 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

“I thought we were great pretty much all night. It’s just, it was a weird game,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Going into the third, it was 2-1. It ends up 6-5. You would never have thought that, the way it was going. We created a ton of good opportunities, we just didn’t cash in. Give the guys credit. We just kept playing.”

Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist in his return from injury, and Erik Karlsson had two goals and an assist for the Penguins (34-18-16), who finished 2-1-2 on a five-game road trip. They lead the New York Islanders by one point for second in the Metropolitan.

“It’s a credit to the guys, the willingness to battle and not quit, stay with it,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “But we’ll also walk out of this game too with plenty to clean up, especially in the first two periods.”

Stuart Skinner made 38 saves, and Rickard Rakell had two assists.

“I felt really good,” Skinner said. “I think that’s why I’m really annoyed right now because I let in six goals. I wouldn’t have expected that. But it’s a hard game, it’s a hard league.”

Crosby missed the previous 11 games after he sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of Team Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Team Czechia in the quarterfinals at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 18. He did not play in the semifinals or the 2-1 overtime loss to Team USA in the gold medal game on Feb 22.

Carolina scored short-handed to take a 1-0 lead at 9:34 of the first period. Jordan Staal chipped a lead pass off the right boards before Jordan Martinook chased the puck down at the top of the circles and snapped a shot to the glove side.

“It was kind of rolling when I got it. I just settled it and shot,” Martinook said. “I shoot on him every summer, so that’s a spot of interest for me.”