7:39 pm
February 23

Penguins @ Hurricanes

Who will WIN this matchup?

Pittsburgh Penguins (35-22-4)

@ Carolina Hurricanes (27-23-10)

 

Starting Goalies:

Matt Murray (PIT): Unconfirmed

Cam Ward (CAR): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Pittsburgh Penguins: (-120)

Carolina Hurricanes: (+100)

 

• The Pittsburgh Penguins vie for their sixth consecutive victory overall and a split of the season series versus the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday when the Metropolitan Division rivals reconvene at PNC Arena. The Penguins dropped the first two encounters between the clubs before skating to a 3-1 win on Jan. 23 to ignite their current 10-1-1 stretch. Evgeni Malkin has been front and center during Pittsburgh’s torrid stretch by recording 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) in the past 11 games overall, including an assist in Sunday’s 5-2 romp over Columbus to extend his point streak to four contests. The 2012 Hart Trophy winner leads the team in goals (33) and points (70), although he has been held off the scoresheet and registered a minus-2 rating in three encounters versus Carolina this season.

• The Hurricanes have alternated three-game winning and losing streaks over their last 12 contests, with a pair of losses to New Jersey highlighting their current stumble. Jeff Skinner reached the 20-goal plateau for the sixth time in eight seasons on Sunday as he recorded his fifth tally in five games in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Devils

• The run of good fortune continued for the Kessel family as Amanda followed up brother Phil’s consecutive Stanley Cup titles with a gold medal for the United States Olympic women’s hockey team on Wednesday. “I’m very proud of her. … To be able to win a gold medal, it’s a special accomplishment and I’m really proud of her,” said the 30-year-old Phil Kessel, who has cooled off after a blistering 11-point, six-game stretch with just one assist in his last six outings. Canadian Matt Murray told reporters while “it’s unfortunate that they beat my home country, … it’s a family in here, so when Phil’s sister has some success, it feels like it’s kind of everybody’s family.

• Sebastian Aho, who leads the team with 21 goals, aims to end a three-game scoreless stretch when he faces Pittsburgh, against which he tallied in Carolina’s 2-1 triumph on Dec. 29 and added two goals and an assist in the Jan. 4 encounter. The 20-year-old Finn missed the team’s most recent game as he recovered from both a concussion and a lower-body injury. Former Penguin Jordan Staal has struggled to get untracked this month, notching just three points – all assists – in 10 games this month.

• Carolina G Cam Ward, who turned aside all 21 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh on Jan. 4, owns an 18-11-4 mark in his career versus the club.

• All signs are looking positive” for Penguins RW Patric Hornqvist to return from an eight-game absence due to a lower-body injury, according to coach Mike Sullivan.

• Pittsburgh RW Bryan Rust has collected 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his past 13 games and C Jake Guentzel has eight (four goals, four assists) in his last nine.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Carolina Hurricanes