Penguins Host Hurricanes After Karlsson's 2-Goal Game

Pittsburgh and Carolina face off in Metropolitan Division matchup

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:11am

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Carolina Hurricanes in a Metropolitan Division showdown on Sunday afternoon. The Penguins are coming off a 5-4 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets in which Erik Karlsson scored two goals. Pittsburgh has a 35-18-16 record overall and an 11-1-9 record in divisional play, while Carolina is 44-19-6 overall and 14-4-1 within the Metro.

Why it matters

This is an important matchup between two of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins and Hurricanes have met three times already this season, with Carolina winning the most recent game 6-5 in overtime. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for the division standings and playoff positioning.

The details

The Penguins have a +34 goal differential on the season, having scored 238 goals and allowed 204. Carolina, meanwhile, is 39-5-6 when scoring three or more goals. Top performers include Sidney Crosby for Pittsburgh and Sebastian Aho for the Hurricanes. In their last 10 games, the Penguins are 4-3-3 while averaging 3.6 goals per game, while the Hurricanes are 6-4-0 and averaging 3.7 goals per contest.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 3 p.m. EDT.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The star center for the Pittsburgh Penguins, known for his elite playmaking and scoring ability.

Erik Karlsson

The defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals in the team's previous game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Sebastian Aho

The skilled forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who leads the team in goals and assists this season.

Nikolaj Ehlers

The winger for the Carolina Hurricanes who has been on a hot streak, scoring five goals and adding seven assists in the team's last 10 games.

Pyotr Kochetkov

The goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes who is currently out with a hip injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a divisional rival like the Hurricanes. They've had our number so far this season, so we'll need to bring our best effort to get the win at home.”

— Sidney Crosby, Captain, Pittsburgh Penguins

What’s next

The Penguins and Hurricanes will face off again later in the season, with their final regular season matchup scheduled for April 5th.

The takeaway

This game features two of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division battling it out, with important playoff positioning on the line. The Penguins will look to avenge their previous losses to the Hurricanes and continue their strong play at home, while Carolina aims to maintain its dominance in the division.