Carolina Hurricanes v Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL

The big picture

Carolina Hurricanes come in 1st on the ladder; Pittsburgh Penguins are 21st. Carolina Hurricanes have the higher position to protect.

Carolina Hurricanes are 13–5 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.8 goals for and 2.4 against.

Pittsburgh Penguins are 5–11 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.2 goals for and 3.6 against.

Form

Carolina Hurricanes have won four of their last five and most recently beat New York Islanders 5–3.

Pittsburgh Penguins have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Boston Bruins 2–6.

Pittsburgh Penguins have lost their last four.

Head to head

These sides have met 91 times on our records since 1999: Carolina Hurricanes 49, Pittsburgh Penguins 39, 3 drawn.

Last time out (2025-26), Carolina Hurricanes won 5–1 at PPG Paints Arena.

Carolina Hurricanes have won the last three against Pittsburgh Penguins.

Biggest margin between these two: Carolina Hurricanes by 7 goals in 2001-02 (7–0).

Players to watch

For Carolina Hurricanes, watch Logan Stankoven (11 goals, 6 assists in 2026-27) and Sebastian Aho (9 goals, 14 assists in 2026-27).

For Pittsburgh Penguins, watch Nick Robertson (7 goals in 2026-27) and Evgeni Malkin (6 goals, 5 assists in 2026-27).

At Lenovo Center

Carolina Hurricanes have won 13 of their last 17 at Lenovo Center.

The deeper numbers

Pittsburgh Penguins haven't beaten Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center since 2018-19: 10 meetings there since then.

Pittsburgh Penguins have lost their last 10 at Lenovo Center and haven't won there since 2018-19 (against Carolina Hurricanes).

Carolina Hurricanes have won their last 5 games at Lenovo Center.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Carolina Hurricanes go in as clear favourites.