The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins are preparing to face off. The Hurricanes currently hold the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are in second place.
Hurricanes Look to Extend Lead
The Carolina Hurricanes have a record of 42-19-6 with 90 points, placing them first in the Metropolitan Division. Before their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Hurricanes lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 5-1. Prior to that loss, the Hurricanes had won four of their last six games.
Nicolas Deslauriers made his Hurricanes debut against the Blue Jackets, leading the team with six hits and recording a fight. Shayne Gostisbehere is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained on March 6.
Potential scratches for the Hurricanes include Eric Robinson and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Pyotr Kochetkov is on injured reserve.
Penguins Aim to Close the Gap
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a record of 34-18-15 with 83 points, putting them in second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are heading back to Pittsburgh for a three-game homestand. The Penguins’ homestand starts with a weekend back-to-back, facing the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, followed by the Hurricanes on Sunday. A rematch with the Avalanche follows on Tuesday.
The Penguins lead the NHL in goals from players who were new to the team this season, with 81. The Anaheim Ducks are next closest with 63.
Goaltending Matchup
Brandon Bussi started for the Hurricanes against the Blue Jackets, allowing five goals on 25 shots. Frederik Andersen could be the likely starter against the Penguins. Andersen is on a three-game win streak, with his most recent start being a 17-save performance in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andersen has an 8-6-0 record in 16 career games against the Penguins, with a .919 save percentage, a 2.53 goals-against average, and two shutouts.
Season Series So Far
The Pens and Canes have split this season series. The Pens secured a 5-1 victory at home on Dec. 30. The Hurricanes won the rematch last week in Raleigh by a score of 5-4 in a shootout. This season series concludes with a rematch in four days in Pittsburgh.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the game against the Blue Jackets the Canes needed to do “everything” different against the Penguins.