Who: Carolina Hurricanes (44-19-6, 94 points, 1st place Metropolitan Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (35-18-16, 86 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)

When: 3:00 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and FDSN South, streaming on ESPN+

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Pens’ Path Ahead: Quality opponents await in the next week; the Pens host Colorado on Tuesday, an Avs team that will undoubtedly be looking to avenge the recent 7-2 defeat they suffered against the Pens. Then Pittsburgh makes a quick trip up to Ottawa for a game on Thursday before returning back to PPG Paints to meet a strong Dallas Stars team next Saturday. After that comes arguably the most meaningful game on the schedule remaining on Monday March 30th in a road game against the Islanders.

Opponent Track: Carolina followed up their thrilling 6-5 OT victory against the Pens on Wednesday by playing another OT game and getting another win on Friday up in Toronto. They’ll stay on the road and go back to Canada for their next game against Montreal on Tuesday.

Season Series: Pittsburgh is 1-0-2 against Carolina this season, good for four points. Carolina is 2-1-0 from their perspective to take four points of their own. Whichever team pulls out the victory today can claim the season series win.

Hidden Stat: Despite only winning 11 of the 21 games vs the Metropolitan Division this season, the Pens have points in 20 out of 21 games against their rivals (11-1-9).

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Getting to know the Hurricanes

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikloaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

DEFENSEMEN

Jaccob Slavin / Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller / Sean Walker

Mike Reilly / Alexander Nikishin

Goalies: Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen

Potential scratches: Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body injury), Nicolas Deslauries, Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Injured Reserve: Pyotr Kochetkov

Andersen has played all three CAR/PIT games so far this season, somehow posting a 2-1-0 record despite some hideous stats (14 goals allowed for a 4.43 GAA, .846 save%). He’s been a weak link, it’ll be interesting to see if Carolina sticks with him or gives Bussi his first career action against the Pens.

Kotkaniemi has been a healthy scratch for 11 of the last 12 games and can’t beat Janikowski for the fourth line center job. Ouch. Tough guy Deslauries has also been a virtual non-factor since being picked up at the deadline, only appearing in one game so far.

Season stats
via hockeydb

Health has been a factor in Carolina’s favor so far this season. Seven of their players have appeared in every game so far (including some important names like Aho, Svechnikov, Ehlers and Blake). Six more have been in at least 61 games (including more staples like Staal, Chatfield, Miller and Jarvis). The Canes had to deal with an injury to Slavin and the goalie Kochetkov, but besides that it’s been mostly smooth sailing in that department this season.

This group boasts five 20+ goal scorers, a number that could reach six or seven depending on if Staal can score three goals and Taylor Hall can stop diving long enough to get five more before the end of the season.

Staal’s having a nice though small little late-career scoring increase, he looked cooked after 10 goals and 30 points in 80 games in 2023-24 followed up by 36 points in 75 games last season. As mentioned above, this year he might crack the 20-goal plateau for only the second time as a Hurricane (back in 2015-16). Staal, 37, is under contract with the Canes for next season and presumably what will be a 21st NHL season next year in 2026-27.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

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Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kris Letang

Ryan Shea* / Connor Clifton

Goalies:  Stuart Skinner (Arturs Silovs played yesterday)

Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Blake Lizotte (injured), Kevin Hayes

IR: Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany, Ryan Graves

There was no meaningful update in yesterday’s post game about Shea’s status. Shea appeared bloodied in the nose/face after taking a big hit from Adam Lowry in the second period. He came back to the bench for the start of the third period wearing full face protection but didn’t end up playing again and then quickly left. Solovyov figures to slot back into the lineup if Shea is injured for today’s game.

King Karl

Seriously, can’t say enough about Karlsson right now. Crosby and Malkin are back but the No. 65 is still pushing the train.