Hurricanes at Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins attempt to improve upon the best home record in the league when they host the streaking Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Pittsburgh is an NHL-best 15-2-2 in its own building and has earned at least one point in each of its last nine games at PPG Paints Arena (8-0-1).
Captain Sidney Crosby netted his league-leading 25th tally Tuesday to extend his goal-scoring streak to four games as the Penguins completed a home-and-home sweep of the Metropolitan Division-rival New Jersey Devils that wrapped around the holiday break with a 5-2 triumph in the Garden State. Carolina is hoping to pick up where it left off before the break, as it extended its winning streak to three games and points streak to five (4-0-1) with a 3-2 overtime triumph over visiting Boston on Friday. Teuvo Teravainen completed the Hurricanes' comeback from a 2-0 deficit 3:01 into the extra session and defenseman Justin Faulk netted his fourth tally in five games while also adding an assist, giving him seven points in that span. Carolina has captured two of its last three road contests after going winless in its previous six (0-4-2).
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, ROOT (Pittsburgh)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (15-11-7): Faulk will have to wait a while to continue his offensive surge, as the team announced he is week-to-week with a lower-body injury he suffered in the victory over the Bruins. Despite occupying sixth place in the Metropolitan, Carolina has been the league's best team on the penalty kill. The Hurricanes entered Tuesday first overall with a 90.6 percent success rate while tying for second with five short-handed goals.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (23-8-5): Evgeni Malkin surrendered sole possession of the team scoring lead Tuesday but recorded a goal and an assist to join an elite group of Penguins. The 30-year-old Russian, who is a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner, became the fourth player in franchise history to eclipse the 800-point plateau, joining Mario Lemieux (1,723), Jaromir Jagr (1,079) and Crosby (979). The 29-year-old Crosby, who is even with Malkin at 41 points despite appearing in six fewer contests, has collected eight during his five-game streak and has been kept off the scoresheet only five times this season.
OVERTIME
1. The Penguins will have Mike Sullivan behind the bench through at least the 2019-20 season after signing the coach to a three-year contract extension Monday.
2. Hurricanes D Ryan Murphy, who has appeared in only four games this season — and none since Nov. 10 — is expected to replace Faulk in the lineup and be paired with Ron Hainsey.
3. Pittsburgh will continue its three-game homestand Saturday against Montreal and have seven days off before completing it versus Tampa Bay on Jan. 8.