Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes Preview
The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to conclude their five-game road journey with a match against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday evening. This particular stretch began last Tuesday in Raleigh and will finish with another encounter against the Hurricanes. The Penguins and Hurricanes will face off for the third time this season; the Penguins secured victory in their initial matchup on December 30, but the Hurricanes edged them out in a shootout last week.
Current Team Momentum
Entering this game, the Penguins will carry momentum as they arrive with two consecutive wins, while the Hurricanes will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 5-1 defeat against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Notably, this will be a back-to-back scenario for the Hurricanes, as they just played, whereas the Penguins had the luxury of a day off.
Standout Players
Among the Hurricanes’ standout players is Sebastian Aho, who continues to impress this season, boasting 24 goals and 68 points over 67 games. Andrei Svechnikov, who notably scored during last Tuesday’s shootout, has also put together an impressive season with 25 goals and 59 points. Seth Jarvis, who was named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster, has led the Hurricanes with 28 goals this season and adds depth to the lineup with a total of 53 points while consistently making his presence felt on the ice.
On the defensive end, Jaccob Slavin remains one of the NHL’s elite defensemen, excelling at minimizing scoring opportunities against his team. He is expected to log significant ice time against the Penguins’ top line, which has undergone some alterations for this matchup, notably with the return of Sidney Crosby.
Penguins’ Lineup Changes
After an absence of 11 games, Crosby participated in the morning skate alongside Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, signaling his return to the ice. The expected forward lines for the game are:
- Rakell, Crosby, and Rust
- Chinakhov, Novak, and Malkin
- Mantha, Kindel, and Brazeau
- Soderblom, Dewar, and Acciari
On defense, the pairings will feature:
- Wotherspoon with Karlsson
- Shea with Letang
- Solovyov with Clifton
In goal, Stuart Skinner is projected to start, swapping in after Arturs Silovs took the net in Monday’s contest.
Game Details
Fans can catch the action with a 7 p.m. ET puck drop on SportsNet Pittsburgh, with additional coverage available on 105.9 ‘The X’. For more updates on the Penguins, including player news and roster changes, be sure to bookmark the THN – Pittsburgh Penguins tab on Google News.
