Head-to-Head: Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Carolina Hurricanes | Head-to-Head | Pittsburgh Penguins |
Rod Brind’Amour | Head Coach | Mike Sullivan |
11-6-5 (3rd in Metropolitan Division) | Standing | 11-8-3 (4th in Metropolitan Division) |
| Leaders |
|
Martin Necas (24) | Points | Sidney Crosby (29) |
Andrei Svechnikov (13) | Goals | Sidney Crosby (11) |
Martin Necas (14) | Assists | Sidney Crosby (18) |
Brady Skjei (5) | +/- | Rickard Rakell (11) |
Brent Burns (3.77) | Shots (Per Game) | Evgeni Malkin (3.23) |
Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins Predictions and Picks
The Carolina Hurricanes will travel to the northeast to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Hurricanes have two more points than the Penguins but are playing worse hockey. Carolina has only won one of their last six games (with four overtime losses), while Pittsburgh has won five of their last six.
The Hurricanes were the best Eastern Conference team last season but are not having the same regular season success this year. Their offense has been slow and is only averaging 2.68 goals per game, but their defense has been focused, allowing less than 2.8 goals per game.
The Hurricanes have been without Teuvo Teravainen for most of the season but have seen impressive performances from their other stars. Martin Necas, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov excelled last season and continue to excel this season. Martin Necas does it all and leads the Hurricanes with 24 points (ten goals, 14 assists). Necas is coming off a one-goal game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Sebastian Aho is also quite talented. Aho has 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) and plays almost 20 minutes a game. Andrei Svechnikov is the premier goal-scorer of this group. Svechnikov leads the Hurricanes with 13 goals. With that being said, the Russian winger has only scored two goals in the last seven games.
Antti Raanta currently holds the goaltender reigns in Carolina as Frederik Andersen recovers from injury. Raanta has a 4-2-2 record and gives up less than 2.5 goals per game. His current backup, Pyotr Kochetkov, has also excelled in his opportunities in the net. Kochetkov may have a 2-1-3 record but only gives up 2.33 goals per game.
The Penguins are in the opposite situation of the Hurricanes. They are one of the hottest teams right now and have an electric offense that averages 3.45 goals per game. However, defensively, they have to clean up their act. Pittsburgh allows a staggering 33.6 shots per game and 3.18 goals.
The Penguins have seen a lot of goal-scoring from Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Rickard Rakell, and Evgeni Malkin this season. Sidney Crosby leads the team with 11 goals and also has 18 assists. Crosby has two goals in the last five games. Jake Guentzel has played four fewer games than Crosby but only has one less goal than him. Rickard Rakell scored the Penguins’ sole goal in their previous game and has nine on the season. Finally, we come to veteran Evgeni Malkin. Malkin is more of a passer but also has eight goals.
The Penguins have a mediocre goaltender duo in Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith. Jarry is slightly better than DeSmith, but neither of them are elite. They have a combined save percentage of .912 and allow 3.18 goals per game.
The Penguins have a home-ice advantage and are playing much better hockey as of late. They will come out on top and move up in the standings.
Why Might the Carolina Hurricanes Win?
The Hurricanes are not expected to win but can if they score first and draw penalties.
Four of the Hurricanes’ last five losses have come in overtime. Carolina simply has not been able to score when it matters most. In order for them to avoid another overtime loss today, they need to score first. If they do, Carolina will push momentum their way and be able to build a lead.
The Hurricanes have a poor power-play unit. They only convert on 16.87% of opportunities (seventh-lowest in the league). Since their power play unit is so ineffective, the Hurricanes need to draw many penalties to give themselves as many opportunities as possible.
Why Might the Pittsburgh Penguins Win?
The Penguins will win if they shoot 35 times or more and harness the home crowd’s energy.
Pittsburgh will face one of Carolina’s two impressive goaltenders. The Penguins will not be able to score anything easy off them, so they have to shoot as much as possible. Pittsburgh must play aggressively and search for every shot.
The Penguins fans are known to be loud. Since that is the case, Pittsburgh needs to let their fans’ energy help them on the ice.
Hurricanes Key Players: (D) Brent Burns
Brent Burns is not shy when it comes to shooting. The defenseman has taken 83 shots but has only scored three goals.
If Burns continues to shoot over 3.5 times a game, he must take smarter shots and score more often. The veteran needs to improve his shot selection.
Penguins Key Player: (RW) Rickard Rakell
Rickard Rakell knows how to score, but more importantly, he knows how to make the correct decisions on the ice. Rakell leads the Penguins in +/- at 11.
Rakell does not need to change much this game. All the winger needs to do, is keep playing intelligent hockey and making the right decisions.
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