Schedule / Matchup Preview

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview @ Hurricanes · SAT · DEC 26 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
SAT · DEC 26 · 6:00 PM CT
Lenovo Center
SN-PIT · CARNHL · HHN
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins
2–0–0
@
Carolina Hurricanes
Hurricanes
1–1–1
Upcoming
SAT · DEC 26 · 6:00 PM CT
SN-PIT · CARNHL · HHN
Pittsburgh Penguins
Away · Penguins
2–0–0
4 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
This matchup has not been kind to the Penguins: 10 losses in the last 13 against Carolina. But the man to watch is Bryan Rust: 7 points in his last 4 against Carolina.
Lenovo Center
Carolina Hurricanes
Home · Hurricanes
1–1–1
3 PTS
Penguins
GOALIES
Hurricanes
Arturs Silovs
Arturs Silovs
Expected
.886 SV% · 2.47 GAA · 2W
.920 SV% L5 · Locked in
VS
Brandon Bussi
Brandon Bussi
Expected
.872 SV% · 2.88 GAA · 0W
.881 SV% L5 · Cooling
Penguins
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Hurricanes
L1
Nicholas Robertson · Sidney Crosby · Rickard Rakell
L1
William Carrier · Sebastian Aho · Andrei Svechnikov
L2
Egor Chinakhov · Tommy Novak · Evgeni Malkin
L2
Taylor Hall · Logan Stankoven · Jackson Blake
L3
Andrei Kuzmenko · Ben Kindel · Hendrix Lapierre
L3
Nikolaj Ehlers · Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook
L4
Connor Dewar · Blake Lizotte · Filip Hallander
L4
Jesperi Kotkaniemi · Mark Jankowski · Eric Robinson
D1
Declan Carlile · Erik Karlsson
D1
Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
D2
Samuel Girard · Kaedan Korczak
D2
K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
D3
Trevor van Riemsdyk · Kris Letang
D3
Shayne Gostisbehere · Mike Reilly
PP1
Ben Kindel · Tommy Novak · Rickard Rakell · Erik Karlsson · Sidney Crosby
PP1
Andrei Svechnikov · Sebastian Aho · Jackson Blake · Nikolaj Ehlers · Shayne Gostisbehere
PP2
Andrei Kuzmenko · Hendrix Lapierre · Egor Chinakhov · Kris Letang · Evgeni Malkin
PP2
Taylor Hall · Jordan Staal · Logan Stankoven · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
PK1
Filip Hallander · Connor Dewar · Samuel Girard · Kris Letang
PK1
Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook · Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
PK2
Ben Kindel · Rickard Rakell · Trevor van Riemsdyk · Erik Karlsson
PK2
Sebastian Aho · Eric Robinson · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
PenguinsProjected lines
L1
Nicholas Robertson · Sidney Crosby · Rickard Rakell
L2
Egor Chinakhov · Tommy Novak · Evgeni Malkin
L3
Andrei Kuzmenko · Ben Kindel · Hendrix Lapierre
L4
Connor Dewar · Blake Lizotte · Filip Hallander
D1
Declan Carlile · Erik Karlsson
D2
Samuel Girard · Kaedan Korczak
D3
Trevor van Riemsdyk · Kris Letang
PP1
Ben Kindel · Tommy Novak · Rickard Rakell · Erik Karlsson · Sidney Crosby
PP2
Andrei Kuzmenko · Hendrix Lapierre · Egor Chinakhov · Kris Letang · Evgeni Malkin
PK1
Filip Hallander · Connor Dewar · Samuel Girard · Kris Letang
PK2
Ben Kindel · Rickard Rakell · Trevor van Riemsdyk · Erik Karlsson
HurricanesProjected lines
L1
William Carrier · Sebastian Aho · Andrei Svechnikov
L2
Taylor Hall · Logan Stankoven · Jackson Blake
L3
Nikolaj Ehlers · Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook
L4
Jesperi Kotkaniemi · Mark Jankowski · Eric Robinson
D1
Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
D2
K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
D3
Shayne Gostisbehere · Mike Reilly
PP1
Andrei Svechnikov · Sebastian Aho · Jackson Blake · Nikolaj Ehlers · Shayne Gostisbehere
PP2
Taylor Hall · Jordan Staal · Logan Stankoven · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
PK1
Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook · Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
PK2
Sebastian Aho · Eric Robinson · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:19 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:15 AM CT
Penguins
INJURY REPORT
Hurricanes
Bryan Rust
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Seth Jarvis
IR · Shoulder (surgery) · Expected back Oct 24
Justin Brazeau
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Alexander Nikishin
OUT · Contract dispute · Expected back Oct 10
Ryan Graves
IR · Knee · Expected back Oct 24
PenguinsInjury report
Bryan Rust
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Justin Brazeau
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Ryan Graves
IR · Knee · Expected back Oct 24
HurricanesInjury report
Seth Jarvis
IR · Shoulder (surgery) · Expected back Oct 24
Alexander Nikishin
OUT · Contract dispute · Expected back Oct 10
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:19 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:15 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Penguins have won 2 straight and are 2-0-0 in their first 2 games. The Hurricanes won their last game and are 1-1-1 in their first 3 games.

Matchup Intel

This matchup has not been kind to the Penguins: 10 losses in the last 13 against Carolina. But the man to watch is Bryan Rust: 7 points in his last 4 against Carolina.

A milestone is in reach for Nick Robertson: 2 more goals for 100 career goals.

The numbers behind it
History
Pittsburgh has lost 10 of their last 13 against Carolina. See the games →
10-3 last 13 vs CAR
Player
Bryan Rust has 7 points in his last 4 games against Carolina. See the games →
(Pittsburgh)
7 pts, last 4 vs CAR
Player
Erik Karlsson has 7 points in his last 4 games against Carolina. See the games →
(Pittsburgh)
7 pts, last 4 vs CAR
Milestone
Nick Robertson is 2 goals shy of 100 career goals.
98 career goals