The Carolina Hurricanes will seek a rebound performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 18, following a 5-1 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop and will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network South and available for listening on 99.9 The Fan and the Hurricanes App.
This matchup holds significance as both teams are at the top of the Metropolitan Division standings, with Carolina leading at 90 points and Pittsburgh close behind with 83 points. The Hurricanes are looking to recover from their recent loss, while the Penguins come in strong after a decisive win over Colorado.
In their last meeting, Carolina evened the season series with a shootout victory at Lenovo Center after previously falling behind early in Pittsburgh. Andrei Svechnikov has been notable for scoring in consecutive games and contributing during shootouts, now aiming to surpass his single-season best of 30 goals from the 2021-22 campaign.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen is expected to start for Carolina, having won three straight games since returning from the Winter Olympics. On the other side, Evgeni Malkin returned from suspension to help lead Pittsburgh’s offense, which has scored 38 goals since the Olympic break—tied for most among all National Hockey League teams.
The game will take place at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The venue features over 700,000 square feet of space with multiple seating levels and amenities such as suites and concession stands according to the official website. It can accommodate up to 20,000 people and hosts more than 150 events each year according to the official website. The team’s activities contribute over $200 million annually to the local economy through events and community engagement according to the official website.
The Hurricanes have recognized players like Eric Staal and Rod Brind’Amour in their Hall of Fame for significant contributions according to the official website, including celebrating their Stanley Cup win in 2006 according to the official website.
After this contest, Carolina will travel to Toronto for a Friday night game against the Maple Leafs before returning home on March 28.
