"Slow Exhale": 2025-26 Regular Season, Game 64: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

It's not a long homestand, but it's a chance to play in front of the Caniacs, so that's all that matters. Plus, it's at a much better time. The Canes went 2-2-0 on their recent road trip, which wasn't acceptable to some. Frankly, I'm perfectly fine with it. It would've been nice to close it with a win on Saturday in Calgary, but they shot themselves in the foot too many times. Tonight, it's a big divisional battle, but the Penguins are playing without what feels like half of their roster. Two of their most consequential players, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, are out, as are Justin Brazeau, Samuel Girard, and Kevin Hayes. While it could matter some, it's a game between division foes, so all bets are off. The Canes should be a little mad about the thumping that the Penguins gave them in December. These two will get very familiar with one another, meeting twice more in less than two weeks.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (7:46)- Logan Stankoven (12) (Mike Reilly (7) & Jackson Blake (21))

PIT (19:04)- Anthony Mantha (24) (Ville Koivunen (5))

2nd Period

PIT (11:44-PP)- Bryan Rust (22) (Egor Chinakhov (10) & Erik Karlsson (37))

3rd Period

CAR (2:49)- Mark Jankowski (6) (William Carrier (8) & Alexander Nikishin (16))

CAR (3:48)- Seth Jarvis (28) (Andrei Svechnikov (33))

CAR (11:21-PP)- Alexander Nikishin (9) (Sebastian Aho (43) & Nikolaj Ehlers (31))

PIT (17:52)- Noel Acciari (7) (Bryan Rust (26) & Egor Chinakhov (11))

PIT (19:25)- Bryan Rust (23) (Rickard Rakell (17) & Erik Karlsson (38))

Overtime

None

Shootout

PIT- Ben Kindel

CAR- Andrei Svechnikov

CAR- Jackson Blake

My Thoughts

Find someone who likes you as much as the Hurricanes like blowing multi-goal leads, or who likes you as much as the Penguins like losing in a shootout, because both are excellent at their respective struggles. This game shouldn't have gotten to overtime, let alone the shootout, but the Canes did what they've done best this season, and that's allow teams to stay in games way longer than they deserved to. The Canes had complete control of the game in the third period. The two points were practically on the board. Instead, they left the door cracked just enough for the Penguins to burst through. Let's not even talk about them taking a penalty in overtime. If there was ever a time for the Penguins to finish the comeback and write the perfect script, it was then. Fortunately, the Canes' penalty came through before they got the job done in the shootout, which is the Penguins' TENTH(!) shootout loss of the campaign.

A big reason for the Penguins' comeback was the save that Stuart Skinner made on Eric Robinson late in the third period. At the time, the Canes led 4-2, and this goal would've all but sealed it. There would've been no need for the Penguins to pull Skinner, and no reason for the Canes to squander another lead. Instead, it kept the game at 4-2, allowing the Penguins to score twice with their goalie on the bench, earning them a crucial point in the standings. I thought Skinner was excellent tonight, finishing the night with 39 saves. However, Frederik Andersen was the winning goalie in this bout. He wasn't as busy, and the two late goals in regulation will hamper an otherwise strong night. There wasn't anything he could've done on either of them. They were just freak bounces that went the Penguins' way. Still, you'll gladly take the two points and another win for Andersen.

Even when their defense struggles at times, the Canes' offense has been consistently strong, and it has taken everyone to get it done. The Stankoven line started the scoring, with Logan Stankoven doing the honors after excellent work around the crease by Mike Reilly. The fourth line also had a strong night, getting the tying goal early in the third period. From there, it was the guys you expect to be difference makers. Andrei Svechnikov set up Seth Jarvis for a breakaway goal. Nikolaj Ehlers and Sebastian Aho made incredible passes during a 5-on-3 to get Alexander Nikishin his ninth goal and a spot alone in the history books. In the shootout, it was Svechnikov and Jackson Blake scoring against Skinner. 10 players found the scoresheet for the Canes tonight, with Nikishin being the only player with a multi-point effort, adding an assist on Jankowski's goal. However, with all of the chances the Canes had tonight, they should've scored a lot more tonight.

Next Wednesday night, these two teams will meet once more. Same time. Same venue. Different day. This time, the Penguins are expected to have, at least, Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup after serving his five-game suspension. It doesn't seem to far fetched to think that Sidney Crosby might be closer to returning than expected. He could easily get right back out there, too. Things got a little chippy tonight, at times. It's almost a little reminiscent of late last season when the Hurricanes and the Capitals met a few times within a few days. Those games were very spirited affairs. I reckon that we'll see something similar, especially with it being the first of three matchups this month. Add some new blood to the next game, and we could be in for some fireworks.

First Star of the Game: Alexander Nikishin

While he kind of got into a scuffle with Noel Acciari during the second period, Alexander Nikishin fell a fight short of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick tonight, settling for a goal and an assist. However, that goal was a big one for Nikishin, breaking his tie with Justin Faulk for the most goals by a rookie defenseman in franchise history. He's also chasing down Jamie McBain for the most points by a rookie defenseman, needing five more points to tie the record. 

Around the League

Pittsburgh: We might not know just how crucial this comeback was for Pittsburgh, though we know for sure that it prevented the Islanders from overtaking them for second in the division.

New York (I): Like the Penguins, the Islanders had to complete a comeback of their own, erasing a 3-0 deficit, but they got the job done in overtime in St. Louis.

Columbus: Don't look now because the Blue Jackets are knocking on the door for the 2nd Wild Card and 3rd in the division with three of four points during their Monday-Tuesday back-to-back.

Washington: The Capitals took an interesting route to beat the Flames last night, allowing three goals late in the second, including two SHGs, before scoring four times in the third to win, 7-3.

Philadelphia: The Flyers were torn apart by the Rangers' power play last night, allowing three goals in a 6-2 loss on home ice in a game that the group really needed to win.

Current Standings

Carolina: 88 Points (5 SO wins this season, T-2nd in the NHL (w/ CBJ); 64 GP)

Pittsburgh: 79 Points (15 OT/SO losses, T-1st in the NHL (LAK); 64 GP)

New York (I): 79 Points (20 road wins, T-1st in the NHL (w/ 3 others); 65 GP)

Columbus: 76 Points (11-1-3 since January 22, 3rd in the NHL (were 15th in the East); 64 GP)

Washington: 71 Points (11.8% Net Power Play, 31st in the NHL; 65 GP)

Philadelphia: 69 Points (22 regulation & OT wins, last in the Eastern Conference; 63 GP)

Next Up: The Hurricanes have one more at home before another journey, albeit a short one. The Canes welcome the Blues into town, hoping to avoid another shutout loss like they had in St. Louis in January. They'll venture out once more on Saturday, concluding their season series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team will likely return home for a day or two before flying to Columbus for a Tuesday tilt with the Blue Jackets next week. It precedes the second meeting in as many weeks with the Penguins, which follows on Wednesday.