The Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for a challenging stretch as they embark on a five-game road trip, starting with a face-off against the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center. With 19 games left in the season, the Penguins are navigating a crucial period that could define their playoff aspirations.
After a tough weekend, including a shootout loss to the Flyers and a 3-0 deficit against the Bruins, the Penguins pulled off a remarkable comeback. Egor Chinakhov's goal during a 5v3 power play ignited a rally that saw Connor Dewar and Anthony Mantha score just 33 seconds apart in the third period. Despite David Pastrnak giving Boston a 4-3 lead, Mantha's rebound tied it up, and Tommy Novak clinched the 5-4 victory in overtime, thanks to a slick assist from Chinakhov.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs played a pivotal role, stopping 22 of 26 shots, securing a crucial win that keeps Pittsburgh four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are nipping at their heels for a playoff spot.
Carolina, on the other hand, has been in strong form, winning seven of their last nine games. However, they stumbled against the Calgary Flames, with goalie Brandon Bussi conceding five goals. Bussi's recent performance has been shaky, with his save percentage dipping below .900.
For the Penguins, Stuart Skinner is expected to start in goal. While his overall save percentage stands at .889, he's shown flashes of brilliance, surpassing .920 in two of his last three outings. Carolina is likely to counter with Frederik Andersen between the pipes.
In terms of lineup, Penguins winger Justin Brazeau is sidelined with an upper-body injury, prompting the call-up of Ville Koivunen, who filled in alongside Ben Kindel and Anthony Mantha.
As for special teams, the Penguins boast a potent power play, ranking sixth in the league, and an even more impressive penalty kill, sitting second. The Hurricanes' power play and penalty kill are solid but not as formidable.
The Penguins have had mixed success against Carolina, managing points in five of their last seven encounters but struggling on the road in Raleigh. Notably, nine of their last 15 meetings have been decided by a single goal, underscoring the competitiveness between these two squads.
With Evgeni Malkin serving the third game of a five-game suspension, the Penguins will look to maintain their momentum. Since returning from the holiday break, they've posted an impressive 17-5-5 record, bolstered by the league's lowest goals-against average.
Erik Karlsson continues to be a key contributor, adding two assists in the win over Boston and tallying seven points in his last six games.
As the Penguins hit the road, every game is pivotal. Their resilience and ability to rally could be the difference-maker as they push for a strong finish to the season.