The Carolina Hurricanes (23-13-2) welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins (17-17-6) to Lenovo Center on Sunday evening in what promises to be a compelling Metropolitan Division matchup with significant playoff implications.
The Hurricanes enter the contest riding their strong offensive performance, averaging 3.45 goals per game, while the Penguins look to bounce back from recent defensive struggles that have seen them allow seven goals in their last two outings.
Carolina's dynamic duo of Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas, who have combined for impressive offensive numbers this season, will face off against Pittsburgh's veteran core led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance this season, with the Hurricanes demonstrating particular strength on home ice where they've won seven of their last eight divisional matchups.
The goaltending battle could prove decisive, as Hurricanes' netminder Dustin Tokarski has impressed in his recent starts, while the Penguins' Tristan Jarry seeks to improve upon his .886 save percentage.
This Metropolitan Division showdown features two teams with contrasting styles and recent trajectories, setting the stage for what could be one of the most intriguing NHL matchups of the weekend.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: who will win?
For tonight's Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins matchup, our predictive model gives the Hurricanes a 53.75% chance of defeating the Penguins.
Pre-game probabilities
Carolina Hurricanes
Moneyline
Win %
53.75%
46.25%
Pittsburgh Penguins
Carolina Hurricanes: 53.75% win probability
- Superior defensive performance (111 goals against vs Penguins' 148)
- Better overall record (23 wins vs 17 wins in similar games played)
- Higher points total (48 points vs 40 points)
Pittsburgh Penguins: 46.25% win probability
- Poor defensive record (148 goals against, among worst in conference)
- Inconsistent recent form (LLWLW showing volatility)
- Lower win percentage (17 wins in 40 games vs Hurricanes' 23 in 39)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Carolina Hurricanes | Pittsburgh Penguins | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline |
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins form
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins head to head
Carolina Hurricanes
67%
Pittsburgh Penguins
33%
Nov 8, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
5 : 1
Pittsburgh Penguins
Oct 18, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
1 : 4
Carolina Hurricanes
Mar 26, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
4 : 1
Carolina Hurricanes
Jan 14, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
3 : 2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Dec 22, 2023
Pittsburgh Penguins
2 : 1
Carolina Hurricanes
Nov 19, 2023
Carolina Hurricanes
4 : 2
Pittsburgh Penguins
