Penguins Mount Miraculous Comeback, But Lose in Shootout

Noel Acciari and Bryan Rust scored late goals to force overtime, but the Penguins fell short in the shootout against the Hurricanes.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The depleted Pittsburgh Penguins mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring two late goals to force overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes. However, the Penguins ultimately fell short in the shootout, losing 5-4. The Penguins were without several key players, including Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but got strong performances from Noel Acciari and Bryan Rust, who scored the tying goals in the final minutes of regulation.

Why it matters

The Penguins' comeback effort showcased the team's resilience and ability to battle back, even when facing a significant deficit. However, the shootout loss highlights the team's continued struggles in that format, having now lost 10 of 11 shootouts this season. The result also impacts the Penguins' standings position, as they were unable to gain ground on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the playoff race.

The details

The Penguins trailed 4-2 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, but Acciari and Rust scored late goals to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, the Penguins had a late power play but were unable to capitalize. In the shootout, Ben Kindel and Jackson Blake scored for the Penguins, but Anthony Mantha was stopped in the third round, giving the Hurricanes the win.

  • The Penguins scored two late goals in the final 2:08 of regulation to tie the game at 4-4.
  • The Penguins had a late power play in overtime but were unable to score the game-winning goal.
  • The shootout went to three rounds, with the Hurricanes prevailing 5-4.

The players

Noel Acciari

A Penguins forward who scored a late goal to help tie the game and force overtime.

Bryan Rust

A Penguins forward who scored two goals, including the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation.

Anthony Mantha

A Penguins forward who was stopped in the third round of the shootout, sealing the loss for Pittsburgh.

Seth Jarvis

A Hurricanes forward who scored a goal in the third period to give Carolina a 3-2 lead.

Stuart Skinner

The Penguins' goaltender, who made 39 saves in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We never gave up, even when we were down late. That's the kind of fight and determination this team has shown all season.”

— Noel Acciari, Penguins Forward (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

“It's tough to lose another shootout, but we'll learn from this and come back stronger. We have to keep pushing to gain ground in the standings.”

— Bryan Rust, Penguins Forward (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

What’s next

The Penguins will look to bounce back from this tough loss when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, March 14th.

The takeaway

Despite the heartbreaking shootout loss, the Penguins' comeback effort showed the team's resilience and ability to battle back, even when facing significant adversity due to key injuries. The Penguins will need to continue this fighting spirit as they push for a playoff spot in the tight Metropolitan Division race.