Game Preview: 02.20.22 vs. CAR

GM 52 | FEB. 20 | 1:00 PM ET | PPG PAINTS ARENA
WATCH: ATTSN, NHLN | LISTEN: 105.9 The X, Penguins Radio Network
PIT: 31 - 12 - 8 (70 pts)
CAR: 33 - 11 - 4 (70 pts)

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GAME PREVIEW

The Penguins return home and kick off a three-game homestand with a visit from the Carolina Hurricanes. Doors to the arena for fans will open at 11:30 AM, and a pregame ceremony will take place celebrating Sidney Crosby's 500th career goal. Pittsburgh is facing Carolina for the first time since Mar. 8, 2020 - almost two calendar years. The Penguins are 4-2-1 in their last seven games against the Hurricanes. Going back further, Pittsburgh is 11-4-1 in their last 16 games against Carolina dating back to Jan. 17, 2016. Pittsburgh is 6-3-0 in its last nine home games against Carolina. Since head coach Mike Sullivan joined Pittsburgh, the Penguins have the second-best (tied) goal differential versus the Hurricanes (+14 in 18 games) in the NHL. Tonight's game begins a stretch of four straight contests versus divisional opponents.

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FIGHT FOR THE METRO

Tonight's game is the first of three contests against the Metropolitan Division's top two teams, and with both teams tied for first-place (70 points each), these games will be key in deciding who could take home the division title. Since Dec. 4, 2021, Pittsburgh (21-4-3, 45 points - 2nd in NHL) and Carolina (18-5-3, 39 points - 4th in NHL) have combined to lose just nine games in regulation and have been two of the hottest teams in the league. Pittsburgh and Carolina will play all three of their regular-season games against each other in the span of the next 22 days (Feb. 20, Feb. 27, Mar. 13).

QUICK HITS

Bryan Rust's 1.57 points-per-game average at home (14GP, 11G-11A) ranks fourth in the NHL and trails only Kirill Kaprizov (1.75), Max Pacioretty (1.70) and Jonathan Huberdeau (1.65).
Evgeni Malkin has 39 points (14G-25A) in 39 career games versus the Carolina Hurricanes, which is tied for eighth-most among all active players.
Assistant coach Mike Vellucci takes on his former organization tonight for the first time since joining the Penguins. Vellucci spent five seasons as the assistant general manager and director of hockey operations for the Carolina from 2014-19. During the 2017-19 seasons, Vellucci also served as the Charlotte Checkers' head coach (AHL), leading the Checkers to a Calder Cup Championship in 2018-19.
Pittsburgh has points in 12 of its last 13 home games (9-1-3).
Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, no NHL defenseman has more goals versus the Metropolitan Division than Kris Letang (20).

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PLAYER INTERVIEW

Video: Crosby speaks with the media

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GAME TRIGGER PROMOTIONS