"Flightless Birds": 2025-26 Regular Season, Game 70: Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins

For the final time this season, the current Top 2 in the Metropolitan Division came together to settle things. The Canes have bested the Penguins twice over the last two weeks, but they've needed overtime to get it done. The Penguins played yesterday afternoon, earning a shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets. For the fifth time this season, Frederik Andersen and Stuart Skinner stood across from one another, trying to give their team the edge. The Canes should have the rest advantage, but the home crowd would help negate that in the Steel City. With plenty to play for, this felt like a big-time bout between two of the division's best.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (0:47-PP)- Sebastian Aho (25) (Seth Jarvis (29))

2nd Period

CAR (6:24-PP)- Nikolaj Ehlers (21) (Seth Jarvis (30) & Alexander Nikishin (18))

CAR (9:15)- Jalen Chatfield (2) (Eric Robinson (6))

CAR (17:20-PP)- Seth Jarvis (29) (Nikolaj Ehlers (37) & Andrei Svechnikov (35))

3rd Period

PIT (14:56)- Egor Chinakhov (16) (Bryan Rust (31) & Sidney Crosby (35))

CAR (18:56-EN)- Mark Jankowski (8) (Jackson Blake (24) & Logan Stankoven (19))

My Thoughts

If there was ever a great time for the power play to really hit its stride and assert its dominance, Sunday afternoon was it. The Carolina Hurricanes scored the first goal of the game 47 seconds in. Sebastian Aho's shot on the power play hit Connor Dewar's stick and bounced past Stuart Skinner. That was just the start of their day. The power play provided the only goal of the opening period, and they got two more in the second. Nikolaj Ehlers ripped a one-timer from the point and set up Seth Jarvis late in the period as part of a 4-0 Carolina lead after two periods. Even the opportunity in the third period that didn't convert had a few excellent chances. For as dominant as the Hurricanes were throughout the contest, this game was really won on the power play. 

In a game that featured a ton of big names, it's safe to say that the Canes' top guys were much more effective than Pittsburgh's. Sidney Crosby had the secondary helper on Pittsburgh's only goal and finished with just two shots. Erik Karlsson was held scoreless with only two shots. Bryan Rust had the primary assist and a team-high four shots. Otherwise, that was pretty much it. Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, and Rickard Rakell were all held without shots. Meanwhile, Jarvis led the Canes with a goal and two helpers. Ehlers had one of each. Aho had a goal. Andrei Svechnikov had an assist. 10 Hurricanes recorded a point. The fourth line created a goal from Jalen Chatfield. The Stankoven line created the empty-net goal for Mark Jankowski. It was a dominant effort through and through. 

Meeting for the fifth time this season, three of the previous four meetings were one-goal affairs, which required overtime or a shootout to resolve. The only other game was a dominant 5-1 win in Pittsburgh for Skinner and the Penguins in December. It was time for Andersen to get his blowout win. It's a shame that the group couldn't get him the shutout, with Egor Chinakhov spoiling the fun late in the third. Otherwise, Andersen was phenomenal. The shot volume was low, but it increased by period. Andersen was quiet when he needed to be, handled the puck well, and absolutely earned every good thing that came his way today. He has wins in five straight games, but this was easily the best of the bunch.

If these two plan to meet again, it won't be until the playoffs, which would likely come in the second round, should both teams qualify and win their opening series. It was the third win in a very short period for the Canes over the second-place team in the division, whose spot is in grave danger against the fast-charging Blue Jackets and the frustratingly alive Islanders. For the Hurricanes, their lead in the division balloons to ten points, and it'll be no worse than nine if Columbus beats New York tonight. The Canes handled their business to round out this trio of confrontations. There is work to be done with 12 games left, but this was a massive pair of points to better their standing.

First Star of the Game: Nikolaj Ehlers

Much like Eric Robinson in the second period on Friday, Nikolaj Ehlers set the tone for the contest by drawing an early power play with his speed. He doesn't get credited with a point for drawing the penalty, but he might as well. He did find the scoresheet twice in the game, with both points coming on the power play. He broke a small goalless drought with an assassinating shot from the point before a beautiful pass to Jarvis for his goal. Ehlers finished the night with four shots, and he's on the cusp of a 60-point season in his first year as a Hurricane.

Around the League

Pittsburgh: Losing regulation this afternoon was not ideal, and the situation only gets tougher with the Avalanche coming to town on Tuesday, though they handled Colorado in Denver, 7-2, last week.

Columbus: At the time of writing this, the Blue Jackets trail 1-0 on Long Island after 20 minutes in a game that could see them jump Pittsburgh for second in the division with a win. 

New York (I): Meanwhile, if the result holds and the Islanders beat the Blue Jackets, they'll momentarily hop into the second Wild Card spot.

Current Standings

Carolina: 96 Points (12 GR)

Pittsburgh: 86 Points (12 GR)

Columbus: 85 Points (13 GP; Game in Progress)

New York (I): 83 Points (12 GR; Game in Progress)

Next Up: The road trip comes to an end on Tuesday night when the Canes and the Canadiens meet for the first of two times over the next week. After a three-day break, the group returns to action next Saturday, kicking off a back-to-back in Raleigh against the New Jersey Devils. The Canadiens will serve as the second half of the twin bill on Sunday. The Canes close the month in Columbus on March 31 before the Blue Jackets visit Raleigh to begin April.