Penguins Seek Encore After Blasting Avalanche

Pittsburgh looks to build on impressive win over NHL's best as they visit Hurricanes

Mar. 18, 2026 at 9:49am

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off an impressive 7-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, the team with the best record in the NHL. Now, the Penguins will try to build on that success as they visit the Carolina Hurricanes, who are tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh will look to continue their strong road trip, while Carolina aims to bounce back after a lopsided loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, with the Penguins looking to gain ground on the division-leading Hurricanes. Pittsburgh's big win over the Avalanche showed they can compete with the league's elite, and they'll hope to carry that momentum into this important divisional clash.

The details

The Penguins were led by the return of Evgeni Malkin, who scored two goals and added an assist in his first game back from suspension. Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said Malkin's impact was no surprise, as he is a fierce competitor who loves the game. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Blue Jackets, a game coach Rod Brind'Amour called their worst of the season. Carolina will likely turn to goaltender Frederik Andersen as they look to get back on track.

  • The Penguins began their five-game road trip last week in Raleigh, where they lost 5-4 to the Hurricanes in a shootout.
  • Evgeni Malkin returned to the Penguins' lineup on Monday after serving a five-game suspension.
  • Sidney Crosby has not played on the Penguins' current road trip as he recovers from a knee injury sustained during the Olympics.

The players

Evgeni Malkin

A star center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals and added an assist in his return to the lineup on Monday.

Sidney Crosby

The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who leads the team in points (59) and goals (27) but has not played on the current road trip due to a knee injury.

Rod Brind'Amour

The head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, who called his team's 5-1 loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday their worst game of the season.

Frederik Andersen

The starting goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes, who is expected to be in net for the team's matchup with the Penguins.

Andrei Svechnikov

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who has scored a goal in back-to-back games and three of the past five.

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What they’re saying

“I think the guys should take some confidence from it. Not just in one area, but a lot of different areas.”

— Dan Muse, Pittsburgh Penguins coach (yournews.com)

“I look forward to the future. I just want to play.”

— Evgeni Malkin (yournews.com)

“This was not a game we played well. Throw it away and come back (Wednesday).”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes coach (yournews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game features a clash between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, with the Penguins looking to build on their impressive win over the league-leading Avalanche and the Hurricanes aiming to bounce back from a lopsided defeat. The return of Evgeni Malkin has provided a boost for Pittsburgh, while Carolina will need to regroup after a rare poor performance.