Penguins at Hurricanes
After sustaining their first loss in regulation since prior to the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Penguins look to prevent matching a season-high losing skid on Tuesday when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes. Pittsburgh saw its nine-game point streak end with a 5-2 setback versus Detroit on Sunday and attempts to avoid losing three straight since a fruitless road trip from Jan. 11-16.
Captain Sidney Crosby scored his NHL-leading 32nd goal on Sunday and also collected a goal and an assist in the first two encounters versus Carolina. Carl Hagelin and Chris Kunitz scored in both the Penguins' 3-2 win over the Hurricanes on Dec. 28 and a 7-1 rout on Jan. 20 as Pittsburgh extended its winning streak to five games against its Metropolitan Division rival. Cellar-dwelling Carolina was shut out for the second time during its four-game losing skid (0-3-1) with a 4-0 setback to Toronto, prompting Jeff Skinner to be blunt with his assessment after the latest loss. "It's not fun when you're falling in the standings," Skinner told the Raleigh News & Observer. "Time doesn't really go by quickly."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL.TV, ROOT (Pittsburgh), SNO, TVAS, FSN Carolinas
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (36-14-8): Phil Kessel has been held off the scoresheet in the last two games after erupting for 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in his previous 12 contests, beginning with a goal and an assist to highlight a four-goal second period against Carolina on Jan. 20. Fellow forward Evgeni Malkin also scored and set up a goal in that contest and has five points (two goals, three assists) since returning from a lower-body injury. Matt Murray yielded four goals against Detroit to suffer his first regulation loss since Jan. 26, but has turned aside 52 of 55 shots to win both contests versus Carolina this season.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (24-23-8): Jordan Staal hasn't enjoyed much winning since being acquired by Carolina prior to the 2012-13 season, and the former Penguin forward knows it will take a group effort from a young Carolina squad to turn its fortunes around. "We're not a team that can lean on a few players," the 28-year-old Staal told the Raleigh News & Observer. "Everyone needs to play, and play well, for us to win." Staal, who has recorded 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) since the calendar switched to 2017, has been held off the scoresheet in both meetings with Pittsburgh this season and has just one goal in 15 career encounters with his former club.
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh D Kris Letang has scored one goal and set up nine others in his last nine games overall and resides two assists shy of 300 for his career.
2. Carolina C Victor Rask has been held without a point in 13 consecutive contests.
3. The Penguins are a perfect 12-for-12 on the penalty kill in the last four games overall and thwarted all three short-handed situations versus the Hurricanes this season.