Pittsburgh Penguins (20-15-5, sixth in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (23-13-5, second in the Metropolitan Division)
Raleigh, North Carolina; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Carolina Hurricanes after Sidney Crosby's two-goal game against the Vancouver Canucks in the Penguins' 4-3 overtime loss.
Carolina has gone 23-13-5 overall with a 7-3-3 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Hurricanes have gone 22-5-2 in games they score three or more goals.
Pittsburgh is 20-15-5 overall with a 6-4-2 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins have given up 109 goals while scoring 122 for a +13 scoring differential.
The teams meet Saturday for the third time this season. The Penguins won the previous meeting 2-1 in a shootout. Crosby scored two goals in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sebastian Aho has 15 goals and 32 assists for the Hurricanes. Andrei Svechnikov has nine goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.
Crosby has 24 goals and 19 assists for the Penguins. Rickard Rakell has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 7-1-2, averaging 4.3 goals, 7.4 assists, 3.9 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
Penguins: 6-2-2, averaging 3.6 goals, 6.5 assists, 2.8 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Hurricanes: Frederik Andersen: out (blood clotting), Martin Necas: day to day (upper body), Pyotr Kochetkov: day to day (upper-body).
Penguins: John Ludvig: out (undisclosed), Matt Nieto: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
