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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Preview, Stats, Game Notes, How to Watch

Carolina will face the champs in Raleigh for the first time this season.

By Peter Dewar
Carolina Hurricanes v Pittsburgh Penguins Photo by Matt Kincaid/Getty Images

Pittsburgh Penguins (28-11-5) at Carolina Hurricanes (21-16-7)
January 20, 2017 — 7:00 p.m. ET
PNC Arena — Raleigh, NC
Fox Sports Carolinas - 99.9 The Fan - WRAL SportsFan web and app
SB Nation rival blog: Pensburgh

Vital Statistics

Category Hurricanes Penguins
Category Hurricanes Penguins
Record 21-16-7 28-11-5
Points 49 61
Division Rank 6 Metro 3 Metro
Conference Rank 10 EC 3 EC
Last 10 Games 6-4-0 7-3-0
Streak Loss 1 Won 2
Goals/Game 2.73 3.52
Goals Against/Game 2.66 2.98
Shots/Game 30.5 34.5
Shots Against/Game 27.8 32.2
Faceoff % 51.5% 47.9%
Power Play % (Rank) 16.9% (21) 23.0% (3)
Penalty Kill % (Rank) 89.1% (1) 78.3% (25)
ES Corsi For % 51.50% 51.56%
ES PDO 98.8 100.4
PIM/Game 06:00 09:04

Goaltender #1

Category Cam Ward Matt Murray
Category Cam Ward Matt Murray
Record 18-13-6 15-4-1
ES Save % .915 .927
GAA 2.42 2.46

Goaltender #2

Category Michael Leighton Marc-Andre Fleury
Category Michael Leighton Marc-Andre Fleury
Record 2-1-0 13-7-4
ES Save % .857 .916
GAA 3.53 3.23

Game Notes

  • This is the second of four meetings between the Canes and Pens, and the first of two in Raleigh. Pittsburgh took round one, winning 3-2 on December 28 in Pittsburgh.
  • The Hurricanes have been world-beaters at home, posting a 14-1-1 record over their last 16 games at PNC Arena—including four straight wins in the last four home games.
  • Ron Hainsey could reach a career milestone, as he sits one assist away from 200 in the NHL.
  • Special teams will be a fascinating subplot during this game, as Carolina’s top-ranked PK takes on Pittsburgh’s 3rd-ranked PP. Conversely, the Canes’ 21st ranked PP against the Pens’ 25th ranked PK could be just the opposite.
  • For the Hurricanes, tonight begins their 10th back-to-back set of the season (they visit Columbus again on Saturday). Carolina is 5-2-2 in the front half of their back-to-back games so far.
  • The Penguins are riding a two-game winning streak, including an exhilarating 8-7 OT win over the rival Capitals on Monday night that featured an Evgeni Malkin hat trick and two goals from the budding Conor Sheary.
  • Speaking of Malkin, he and Sidney Crosby have torn the Canes up in the past, with each averaging well over a point per game against Carolina.
  • Carolina’s Teuvo Teravainen (1g, 2a) and Lee Stempniak (1g, 3a) are the only Hurricanes with active point streaks (2 games each).
  • Should Carolina win tonight, they would find themselves ahead of idle Toronto and Philadelphia for the second wild-card spot, marking their first stint in a playoff position this season.
  • Tonight will be the fourth game out of eight in the “Hurricanes Homegrown” series. Local beer, music, food, art, and t-shirts will be featured and sold during the game. For more information, check out this tweet:

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