Hurricanes at Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are not accustomed to looking up at Carolina in the standings, but that's the position the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions find themselves as they enter Thursday's game against the visiting Hurricanes. The Penguins will be looking to win consecutive contests for the first time in more than a month.
A 5-1 victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday prevented Pittsburgh from falling into the basement of the rugged Metropolitan Division - not to mention giving the players a reason for optimism. "We definitely needed a game like that where the offense is clicking and we're playing good defense," forward Ryan Reaves told reporters. "It's something to build off, but we need to string a couple of those together." The Hurricanes are in the midst of a brutal schedule as they prepare to play the opener of a four-game road trip. Carolina followed a 7-1-0 stretch with one-goal losses to St. Louis and Washington, and visits three of the best teams in the Eastern Conference (Boston, Tampa Bay and Washington) after Thursday's contest.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Carolina), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (18-13-8): Victor Rask scored three times in a 23-game stretch before notching six goals in his last 13 contests. Rask struck for his ninth and 10th goals in the overtime loss at Washington. "He's been way better. He's been better on a consistent basis, and that's what you expect from a guy who has been in the league long enough now that he should have a level of expectations that are fair and honest," coach Bill Peters told reporters. "He's playing more towards his game, for sure."
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (20-18-3): Pittsburgh received a boost on the blue line with the returns of Kris Letang and Justin Schultz, who were sidelined for three and 11 games, respectively, due to lower-body injuries. “When they're not in our lineup, it's fairly evident we don't come out of our end zone as clean,” coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. "They're both mobile guys. They can get back to pucks quickly.” Matt Murray will get the start in net Thursday after Tristan Jarry was hurt against the Flyers.
OVERTIME
1. Murray went 3-0-0 with six goals allowed in four appearances versus the Hurricanes last season.
2. Carolina placed Marcus Kruger (lower body) on injured reserve and recalled fellow C Aleksi Saarela from Charlotte of the American Hockey League.
3. Along with Jarry (undisclosed), Penguins D Brian Dumoulin (head) and RW Carter Rowney (undisclosed) also were injured in Tuesday's victory.