Penguins Host Jets After Karlsson's 2-Goal Game

Pittsburgh looks to bounce back from overtime loss as Winnipeg visits.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:11am

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon, with the Penguins looking to rebound after a 6-5 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in which Erik Karlsson scored two goals. The Penguins are 34-18-16 overall and 16-9-8 at home, while the Jets are 28-29-11 overall and 11-16-5 on the road. This is the second matchup between the teams this season, with the Jets winning the previous game 5-2.

Why it matters

The Penguins are fighting for playoff positioning in the Metropolitan Division, while the Jets are trying to stay in the hunt in the tight Central Division race. This game could have implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.

The details

In the previous matchup, Jets forward Kyle Connor scored two goals to lead his team to a 5-2 victory over the Penguins. For the Penguins, Sidney Crosby has 28 goals and 33 assists on the season, while Bryan Rust has been hot lately with seven goals and six assists in the last 10 games. On the Jets' side, Connor has 31 goals and 47 assists, while Mark Scheifele has four goals and nine assists in the last 10 games.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 20, 2026 at 1 p.m. EDT.
  • The teams last met earlier this season, with the Jets winning 5-2.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The star center for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who has 28 goals and 33 assists on the season.

Kyle Connor

The Jets' leading scorer, with 31 goals and 47 assists on the year.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a divisional opponent fighting for playoff position.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins

“Our last game against the Penguins was a big win for us, but we know they'll be hungry to get the two points at home.”

— Paul Maurice, Head Coach, Winnipeg Jets

What’s next

The Penguins will look to get back in the win column and improve their playoff positioning, while the Jets will try to build on their previous victory over Pittsburgh.

The takeaway

This matchup between two teams fighting for postseason berths should provide an exciting and competitive game, with the Penguins looking to avenge their earlier loss to the Jets and the visitors aiming to solidify their own playoff chances.