Game Preview: 03.22.26 vs. Carolina Hurricanes

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue their three-game home stand against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is set for 3 PM. Doors will open at 1:30 PM.

We are excited to celebrate Her Hockey Day presented by 84 Lumber! Her Hockey Day recognizes the incredible passion of our female fans during Gender Equality Month. From girls stepping onto the ice for the first time to those who are trailblazers for our great game, we are proud to celebrate the entire female hockey community.

In addition to information tables throughout the concourse, the game will feature a Her Hockey Auction including locker room nameplates, autographed memorabilia, female-featured art, and more. Fans can text HERHOCKEY to 76278 or visit herhockey.givesmart.com today at 12 PM through March 30 at 12 PM to join the auction. Proceeds will support the Pittsburgh Pennies, a girls' ice hockey program established to increase the number of girls who play hockey and to promote gender equality in the sport.

This game will be available to watch on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can listen to the game on 105.9 The X and on the Penguins app.

Team Records: PIT (35-18-16), CAR (44-19-6)

Pittsburgh has points in seven of its last nine games versus Carolina (3-2-4). The Penguins have points in five of their last six home games against the Hurricanes here at PPG Paints Arena (3-1-2). Pittsburgh has points in 20 of 21 games versus Metropolitan Division opponents (11-1-9) this season.

Related Links

Recent News

• Penguins Sign Goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle to a Three-Year, Entry Level Contract
• Embracing the Pressure: Horcoff's Stellar Season
• Musings: Penguins Earn Point in Third Period Frenzy
• Musings: Penguins Pull Off Third Comeback of the Week
• Musings: Turnovers Key Culprit in 6-2 Loss
• Love is in the Air: Crosby Surprises Dream Proposal
• Musings: Penguins Rally Back to Earn A Point Against Hurricanes
• A Very Big Penguins Debut
• Malkin of Penguins Suspended 5 Games for Slashing
• Dubas, Penguins Stay the Course
• Crosby Skates With Group in Non-Contact Fashion
• Malkin Goes Beast Mode in Return to Lineup

Game Notes

Quick Hits

Eleven of the last 17 games between Pittsburgh and Carolina have been one-goal games.

Egor Chinakhov tallied a goal and an assist against the Jets on Saturday and has a new career high in points (30) this season and is one goal shy of tying his career best (16), set in the 2023-24 season. He just set his career high in assists (14) with his tally on Monday against Colorado.

In his two games against Carolina with the Penguins this season, Stuart Skinner has made 40 saves, on March 10, and 38 saves, on March 18, which rank first and second respectively for his highest single game save totals this season.

Erik Karlsson ranks third in points (32) against Carolina among active defensemen and trails only John Carlson (45) and Victor Hedman (34). He had five points (2G-3A) in his two most recent games against them on the Penguins last road trip.

Bryan Rust enters Sunday's game riding a six-game point streak (5G-5A) and has points in 11 of his last 12 games played (7G-9A) dating back to Feb. 28.

A-MUSE-ING

Head Coach Dan Muse has the Penguins playing some of the most consistent hockey in the league in his first season in the NHL. Under Muse’s guidance, the Penguins have already surpassed last season’s win total through 69 games, and the team has seen massive year-over-year improvement in multiple categories.

MALKIN 1,400

Forward Evgeni Malkin enters today’s game two points shy of 1,400 in his career. Malkin is looking to join Sidney Crosby (1,749) and Mario Lemieux (1,743) as the only players in franchise history to notch 1,400 points with the team, and he would also become just the 23rd player in NHL history to accomplish this feat.

Malkin would also become just the second Russian-born player in NHL history to accumulate 1,400 points along with Washington’s Alex Ovechkin.

Malkin enters today’s game with points in each of his three games played (2G-3A) since returning from jail (suspension).

STREAKIN' SWEDE

Rickard Rakell tallied a goal on Saturday against Winnipeg to extend his point streak to eight games (3G-7A). It is his longest point streak of the season and ranks second in the NHL.

This current streak is also now the longest point streak in Rakell’s career.

SWEDE ASSISTS

Erik Karlsson tallied two goals and an assist on Wednesday against Carolina and now has nine assists in the last seven games overall. With his next assist, he will surpass Daniel Alfredsson for fifth most all-time by a Swedish-born player.

SPOON-FED SUCCESS

Parker Wotherspoon tallied two assists on Saturday and is now riding a career long four-game point streak (5A). Since his streak began, only his defensive partner Erik Karlsson and Columbus’ Zach Werenski have more points than him among NHL blueliners and none have more assists.

SILKY SWEDE

Erik Karlsson tallied two goals on Saturday against the Jets and now has 19 points (7G-12A) in the last 12 games. He ranks third in the NHL in points in that span.

In that span, Karlsson is third in the NHL in power-play points (7).

MANTHA'S CAREER YEAR

Forward Anthony Mantha continued his hot streak on Wednesday, tallying an assist and now has points in six of his last seven games (5G-3A). In doing so, he now has career highs across the board in goals (26), assists (27) and points (53). Mantha ranks tied for sixth in the NHL in goals (5) since Mar. 8.

During the Sidney Crosby Era (2005-Present), only four players on Pittsburgh have scored more goals than Mantha in their first season with the team.

MULTI-POINT MAYHEM

Sidney Crosby recorded a multi-point game in his return from injury (1G-1A) on Wednesday and is now one such instance shy of surpassing both Mark Messier and Marcel Dionne for third most multi-point games in NHL history.

DIRTY THIRTY

Sidney Crosby comes into tonight’s game two goals shy of reaching the 30-goal mark for the 14th time in his career and the fifth-consecutive season. Only six players in NHL history have more 30-goal seasons than him currently and only Alex Ovechkin has more among active players (19).

SUPER ROOKIE

Ben Kindel enters tonight’s game with 12 points (9G-3A) over his last 19 games. Kindel is up to 17 goals on the season, which ranks fourth among NHL rookies. Four of his 17 goals have been game-winning tallies, and he’s one game-winning goal shy of the NHL single-season record for an 18 year old.

STORM CHASER

Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby has 70 points (25G-44A) in 64 career games against Carolina. Crosby’s 70 points versus the Hurricanes are the second most among active players, and his 1.09 points-per-game average against them is the sixth best (min. 20 GP).

Crosby has points in 10 of his last 15 games against Carolina (10G-6A) and has 21 points (11G-10A) in his last 22 games versus them. Only Alex Ovechkin (9), Steven Stamkos (7), John Tavares (6) and Adam Henrique (6) have more game-winning goals against the Hurricanes than Crosby (5) among active players.

LETANG 800

Kris Letang enters tonight’s game one point shy of 800 career points. He would be the 21st defenseman to reach the mark in NHL history and fourth active blueliner to do so.

Letang holds every major statistical record among defensemen in Penguins’ history which includes games played (1,224), goals (178), assists (621) and points (799). He would become the ninth defenseman in NHL history to reach the mark with one team.

GIRARD 200

Newly acquired defenseman Sam Girard comes into tonight’s game one assist shy of 200 career assists after recording his first one as a Penguin on Saturday. He would be the 13th player and the fifth defenseman from the 2016 NHL Draft to reach the mark.