2025-26 Regular Season, Game 39 Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins

Last Game: The Carolina Hurricanes picked up two big points on Monday night, earning a victory in the first half of the back-to-back against the New York Rangers. New York got on the board early, scoring on the power play after Vladislav Gavrikov stepped into a one-timer. The Canes' man advantage got it back late in the frame. Operating up two men, Sebastian Aho sniped it top corner on Igor Shesterkin, who had no clue where the puck was. Late in the second, the Rangers got a friendly bounce to regain the lead. The puck hit several players in front of the net before Jonny Brodzinski batted it home. The home team got the bounce back in the third. Jalen Chatfield's initial chance was kicked away, but the rebound hit Jordan Martinook's heel and slid through Shesterkin's pads to knot it up again. With 60 minutes not enough time to settle things, the team took it to overtime. Late in overtime, Taylor Hall drew the penalty that would prove to be the difference. Jackson Blake tipped Aho's shot with just under 13 seconds left to provide the difference, scoring his first career OT winner in a hard-fought 3-2 victory in the final home game of 2025.

Injury Report

Pyotr Kochetkov: After being the expected starter on Monday, the team announced that he had elected to have hip surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.

Shayne Gostisbehere: A groin injury kept him sidelined for Monday's contest, so I'm not expecting to see him again tonight, with this weekend feeling like a more likely timetable for his return.

Seth Jarvis: Stop asking...

Jaccob Slavin: ...because they aren't playing.

The Opponent: Pittsburgh Penguins (16-12-9, 41 Points; 7th in the Metropolitan Division)

Last Season's Meetings: The Canes and the Pens only met three times a season ago, with Carolina picking up the season sweep. They first battled in Pittsburgh in October as the Canes set out on their annual State Fair trip. The only meeting in Pennsylvania saw the Penguins score first, but once the Canes responded, it was all Carolina. They rattled off four unanswered goals, including a pair on the power play, in a 4-1 victory. About a month later, Pittsburgh visited Raleigh, and it was wire-to-wire brilliance from the Canes. Jordan Martinook opened the scoring 52 seconds in, and the group never let it go. Only one of Pittsburgh's 36 shots beat Pyotr Kochetkov that night, ending in a 5-1 victory for the Canes. The final meeting in Raleigh in early January was much closer. The Penguins led 2-0 within the opening 5:08, but the Canes responded with a trio in the second period, including a pair from Seth Jarvis. Erik Karlsson knotted it early in the third, sending the sides to overtime. Sebastian Aho was the hero, needing just 90 seconds to knock one home to secure a perfect season series.

Since We Last Met: For a team giving it one last go with their core group, the Penguins are certainly trying to make the most of it. They're hovering around at the bottom of the division and stuck in the group vying for the second Wild Card spot. There was a lot of wheeling and dealing for the Penguins this offseason. They turned Alex Nedeljkovic into Arturs Silovs. They acquired Matt Dumba. They signed Anthony Mantha and Justin Braxeau to short-term deals. Some of these moves have paid dividends, while others haven't. The moves haven't stopped, either. Earlier this month, they swapped goalies with Edmonton, sending Tristan Jarry to the Oilers for Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak. The move hasn't worked out yet, with Skinner going 0-3-0 and allowing 12 goals in three starts. On Monday, they sent Danton Heinen and two picks to Columbus to acquire Yegor Chinakhov. While their offense and defense might be in the middle of the pack, their power play and penalty kill have been good, sitting 3rd and 12th in the league, respectively. Of course, you can't talk about Pittsburgh without bringing up its long-time kingpins. Sidney Crosby has 20 goals and 39 points. Evgeni Malkin is over a point per game in his final season with the Penguins. He has been hurt since early December, though he might be close to returning, with tonight's contest not completely out of the question. Kris Letang has been healthy all season, sitting second on defense in points (19) to Erik Karlsson (26). We'll know more in about a month whether this team is a legit playoff contender. Until then, they're going to be a fun group to keep an eye on.

Stories to Watch

1. Closing the year with a win

I've loved the Canes' last two games, getting them back on track after a disappointing stretch against the Florida teams. Tonight marks the final time they'll lace their skates in 2025. Once again, they've been one of the best teams in the league over the calendar year. On the surface, this is just another December game. However, in a season where separation in the standings is getting tougher and tougher, this is just as valuable a set of points as they've fought for. 

2. Another big game against the opponent's top players

One major staple of both wins against Detroit and New York has been the Canes' ability to keep the stars in check. They've forced their opponents' depth to try and beat them since returning from Christmas. On both occasions, the Canes' depth has reigned supreme. Potentially playing without Gostisbehere again tonight, the emphasis will be on Nikishin, Walker, Miller, and Chatfield to be the driving forces against the likes of Crosby, Karlsson, and company.