Penguins and Sharks Face Off in Crucial Matchup with Betting Odds Favoring Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the San Jose Sharks on Monday at 10:30 PM ET. The game takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Both teams are coming off losses, making this an important matchup. The Penguins are favored at -168, while the Sharks are underdogs at +140.
Game Details: Time, TV, Location
This game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with a live stream available on Fubo as well. The Penguins are expected to cover a spread of -1.5. The total for the game is set at 6.5 points, with both teams’ performances influencing the predictions.
Penguins and Sharks Face Off in Crucial Matchup with Betting Odds Favoring Pittsburgh (NHL)
According to Data Skrive’s algorithm, the predicted score is a 4-3 victory for the Sharks. This prediction takes into account factors like strength of wins and scoring margins. San Jose, while underdogs, might pull off an upset in this contest.
Moneyline and Spread Betting Insights
The Penguins have a strong record as moneyline favorites this season. With odds of -168, they have won seven of 12 such games. On the other hand, the Sharks, underdogs with +140 odds, have managed 14 wins in similar situations, making them a solid pick against the spread.
With a total of 6.5 points, both teams have combined for over 6.5 goals in many of their games this season. San Jose has exceeded this total in 44.2% of their games, making the over a tempting choice for bettors. The odds suggest that both teams may score high, making for an exciting game.
Kraken Beat Penguins 4-1 in Seattle, Complete Series Sweep
The Seattle Kraken and Joey Daccord were focused and determined on Saturday, securing a solid win to sweep the season series against Pittsburgh during Kids Day at Climate Pledge Arena.
Daccord faced 29 shots, including 16 high-quality scoring chances. He did allow a goal from Sidney Crosby, who moved ahead of Joe Sakic to become 10th all-time in road points, but Daccord held strong to earn his fifth win in the last seven games.
Defenseman Vince Dunn, who scored the game-winning goal, praised Daccord for stepping up in key moments: “We can always count on him to make the big saves. It’s on us to find a way to build off his momentum.
When you have a goalie you can trust, it fuels the guys in front of him and makes guys feel confident, not to play safe, to execute and want to make plays in front of him, plus knowing that sometimes things don’t go perfectly and he’s back there to stop the puck.”
Eeli Tolvanen helped the Kraken and the Kids Day crowd relax with a third goal early in the final period, and Matty Beniers sealed the win with a later goal for a 4-1 final score.
Both goals were set up by great assists from teammates. On Tolvanen’s goal, Shane Wright created the scoring chance and passed to McCann in space.
McCann then passed it to Tolvanen for the quick release and goal. On Beniers’ goal, Kakko stole the puck just outside the Pittsburgh zone, patiently handled it, and passed to Beniers for the goal.
While the four goals and Daccord’s strong performance stood out, it was also important to highlight McCann’s two primary assists on the tying and winning goals. In his last 10 games, McCann has racked up nine assists and a goal.
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
McCann’s theory after the game
“I’m just trying to contribute as much as I can,” McCann said after the game. “I’ve said this time and time again: I’m not a big points guy. I never have been. So penalty killing, I think I do a better job blocking shots and being better defensively.”
Though McCann downplays his role in offense, he showed his playmaking ability, especially during a power play goal where he created confusion among the defense and then retrieved the puck to find Dunn for a long-range shot.
“Dunner and I, we’ve played together for a long time,” McCann said. “He always holds the middle of the ice, which is nice. So I just try to get the puck to him there.”
NHL teams get one timeout per game, and Kraken coach Dan Bylsma used his effectively on Saturday.
After two Penguins players went to the penalty box in quick succession, Bylsma took a timeout with 1:20 of potential 5-on-3 play. He handed strategy to assistant coach Jessica Campbell, who used the whiteboard to set up the next play.
The timeout worked perfectly, as Seattle fired multiple shots on rookie goalie Joel Blomqvist.
After the first flurry, the Kraken regrouped, and Vince Dunn scored with a slapshot off a pass from McCann.
Chandler Stephenson, who had been questionable to play due to an upper-body injury suffered on Thursday, added his second assist of the night, bringing his total to 27 assists for the year.
Penguins Face Familiar Playoff Push Amid Trade Deadline Challenges and Narrow Margins
As the Pittsburgh Penguins navigate the early weeks of 2025, they find themselves in a situation that feels all too familiar. On the fringe of playoff contention, they are battling to stay in the race while also considering the implications of the NHL trade deadline. Similar to last year’s scenario with Jake Guentzel, the team faces a delicate balance between building for the future and pursuing immediate success. While the playoff picture remains within reach, the stakes are high, and decisions made in the coming weeks could define their season.
The players are well aware of the challenges ahead but remain steadfast in their belief in one another. Forward Anthony Beauvillier emphasized that the team’s fate lies in their hands, stating that if they stay competitive, trade concerns might diminish. Despite the looming deadline, the players focus on their immediate performance rather than external noise. Their shared determination to remain united and strive for a postseason berth underscores the strong camaraderie within the group.
Narrow Margins and Missed Opportunities
The Penguins’ recent form paints a frustrating picture: nine losses in 12 games since the holiday break, with eight of those defeats being one-goal games in the third period. These narrow losses reveal a team capable of competing but falling just short of execution. Players and coaches believe that the solution lies within their existing lineup, as minor adjustments and consistent effort could turn close games into victories. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic highlighted the need to push beyond current levels to match the league’s best teams.
Penguins Face Familiar Playoff Push Amid Trade Deadline Challenges and Narrow Margins
Currently sitting five points out of the second wild-card spot, the Penguins remain within striking distance of postseason contention. With games in hand evening out among competitors, every game becomes crucial. Stringing together wins, capitalizing on opportunities, and avoiding costly overtime points are vital for closing the gap. The team recognizes the urgency, as time to make a significant push diminishes with each passing game. The road ahead is challenging but not insurmountable.
Building Chemistry on the Road
A seven-game, 15-day road trip provides a unique opportunity for the Penguins to deepen their bonds. With one win and one loss to start the trip, upcoming games against tougher opponents like the Los Angeles Kings and more winnable matchups present a chance to solidify their standing. Head coach Mike Sullivan emphasized the importance of off-ice chemistry translating into on-ice performance. The team views this extended travel as a chance to grow closer, which could boost their cohesion and competitive edge.
Regardless of their position, the Penguins have shown relentless effort and determination. Even amid setbacks like the 5-0 loss to Ottawa, their fighting spirit remains evident. The team’s strong character, leadership, and camaraderie fuel their belief in a potential second-half surge. As Beauvillier noted, the group is tight-knit and committed to proving they can succeed together. With their playoff hopes still alive, the Penguins will continue battling for a chance to keep the team intact and make a run for postseason glory.
Kings center Alex Turcotte, left, reaches to defend against a shot on goal by Pittsburgh Penguins center Noel Acciari, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game
In a night that began with a heartfelt ceremony honoring first responders, the Los Angeles Kings were defeated 5-1 by the Pittsburgh Penguins at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, ending their nine-game home winning streak.
The Penguins were led by goals from Kevin Hayes, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Cody Glass, and Anthony Beauvillier. Hayes, Crosby, and Beauvillier also contributed assists, while Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots in the win.
Adrian Kempe scored the Kings’ only goal with a two-man advantage, while David Rittich made 27 saves in their first home loss since a 1-0 defeat to Buffalo on November 20.
Kings coach Jim Hiller expressed his disappointment with the performance, saying, “I can probably count only five times that I’ve been disappointed with our team this season. Tonight is one, maybe the most.” He mentioned that while the night was emotional, it should have motivated his team rather than hurt them.
The Kings lost consecutive games for the fifth time this season, with two of those losses coming in the past five games.
The Kings’ offensive struggles have been clear, as they’ve scored the fewest goals in the NHL since New Year’s Eve, with two or fewer goals in five of their seven games in 2025. Hiller did not want to label it as a slump just yet, saying, “I think it’s a little too early to say it’s a slump or say guys are squeezing, or those kinds of things.”
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) controls the puck away from Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) during the first period of an NHL hockey game
After the first period, the Kings were down by two goals, with Pittsburgh scoring four minutes apart at the 10:09 and 14:09 marks. Pittsburgh’s first goal came on a power play, where Hayes took advantage of a defensive lapse, skating past Trevor Lewis and Joel Edmundson before scoring off Edmundson’s stick.
Crosby doubled the lead with a deflected shot off Matt Grzelcyk’s point attempt that bounced past Rittich.
The Penguins’ third goal came in the second period, at 8:26, when a near giveaway by Kris Letang resulted in a quick three-pass play that ended with Malkin sweeping the puck past Rittich to make it 3-0.
Kempe gave the Kings some hope with a power-play goal at 15:05, scoring off a one-timer on a five-on-three advantage to make it 3-1. However, the Penguins quickly responded, with Glass redirecting Hayes’ pass into the net just three minutes later to restore the three-goal lead.
“It was definitely not our game tonight, from top to bottom,” said Kings captain Anže Kopitar. “We didn’t get anything going, and even when we did with the power-play goal, they came right back and scored the fourth one, which, obviously, turned out to be a big goal.”
Beauvillier sealed the Penguins’ victory with a goal at 13:03, knocking in the rebound from Letang’s shot, with Crosby providing the assist. That made it 5-1, securing the win for Pittsburgh.
Looking ahead, the Kings will host the Florida Panthers next before embarking on a five-game road trip. Kopitar summed up the team’s performance by saying, “We just weren’t good enough, that’s the bottom line. Top to bottom, left to right, the game was not there. We’ve got to make sure that our game is a lot sharper and a lot better on Wednesday.”
Malkin Reaches 500 Goals, Crosby Surpasses 1,600 Points in Penguins' Memorable Win Over Sabres
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, two iconic players for the Pittsburgh Penguins, have shared many milestones and memories over the past two decades. On Wednesday night, both achieved significant accomplishments during a 6-5 victory against the Buffalo Sabres. Malkin reached 500 career goals, becoming the 48th player in NHL history to do so. Meanwhile, Crosby marked his place in history by recording 1,600 regular-season points, joining an elite group of just 10 players who have achieved this feat.
Malkin’s Milestone Goal and Emotional Journey
Malkin, who had been thinking about reaching the 500-goal mark for over a year, expressed relief and happiness after finally achieving it. “I really wanted to score [the 500th goal] last year,” he said, reflecting on his long journey to reach this milestone. The Penguins’ captain, Crosby, had assisted Malkin during his own 500th goal in 2022 and returned the favor on Wednesday. Crosby set up Malkin’s goal with a creative pass behind the net, and Malkin, while sitting on the ice, managed to score past the Buffalo goalie.
Malkin Reaches 500 Goals, Crosby Surpasses 1,600 Points in Penguins’ Memorable Win Over Sabres
Crosby, who had a front-row seat to Malkin’s goal, expressed admiration for his teammate’s achievement. “It was a pretty awesome goal,” Crosby remarked, remembering the moment fondly. The two players, who have been teammates for almost two decades, have shared many such moments. Their connection has been a cornerstone of the Penguins’ success, leading to three Stanley Cup victories. Malkin’s 500th goal solidified his place as one of the top goal-scorers in Penguins’ history, ranking third, while also becoming the 20th player to score 500 goals for a single team.
Malkin’s Historic Achievement and Penguins’ Legacy
Malkin’s 500th goal places him in exclusive company. He is only the second Russian-born player in NHL history, after Alex Ovechkin, to achieve this milestone. He joins Crosby, Ovechkin, and Steven Stamkos as active players with 500 goals. This achievement makes the Penguins only the second NHL team, after Montreal, to have three 500-goal scorers in their history. Both Crosby and Malkin’s consistent contributions continue to shape the team’s success, with the Penguins continuing to excel with these superstars leading the charge.
Crosby reached another major milestone during the game, recording his 1,600th career point. The achievement was marked by a secondary assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal. Crosby is now one of just 10 players in NHL history to reach this mark, a testament to his longevity and elite performance. At 37, Crosby continues to be a key player for the Penguins, as he is closing in on 600 career goals and climbing up the all-time points list. Crosby’s remarkable consistency shows no signs of slowing down as he moves closer to passing Penguins legend Mario Lemieux for eighth place in NHL history.
Evgeni Malkin skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game
Pittsburgh Penguins player Evgeni Malkin’s three Stanley Cup rings were found after being stolen during a break-in at his home.
Allegheny County Police announced on Thursday that the rings were recovered in a different area of Malkin’s home in Sewickley Heights, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
Malkin reported the burglary on January 11, after he returned from Pittsburgh’s 5-0 loss to Ottawa at PPG Paints Arena. While the rings have been located, the police investigation into the break-in is still ongoing.
Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs
Malkin, 38, is the latest athlete to be targeted in a string of home invasions. In December, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s house was robbed while the Bengals were playing a Monday Night Football game in Dallas.
Earlier in October, homes of Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into. In the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home burglarized on November 2, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.’s house was broken into on September 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game.
Alex Nedeljkovic celebrates with Erik Karlsson after scoring
Alex Nedeljkovic remembers watching Marty Turco and Martin Brodeur as a child, admiring how they handled the puck.
On Friday night, Nedeljkovic achieved something neither Turco, Brodeur, nor any other goalie had done before.
He became the first goalie in NHL history to record both a goal and an assist in the same game during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing the puck,” Nedeljkovic said. “Growing up, I watched some of the best guys do it, like Marty Turco, Marty Brodeur were two guys that I watched a lot and really learned a lot from in terms of puck handling. It’s been part of my game as long as I can remember.”
Nedeljkovic explained that his puck-handling skills were developed thanks to advice from his father. “Started from just conversations with my dad in the car telling me, like, ‘Don’t just throw the puck around the boards every time you get it.
Try to make a smart play with it, put it on guys’ tape. Don’t just do it; if you’re going to do it, at least try to do something with it.’ It’s really exciting right now.”
In addition to his historic feat, Nedeljkovic made 40 saves in the game. He had a secondary assist on Glass’ goal, which came with 8:17 remaining in the second period, giving the Penguins a 3-1 lead. Later, with just 2:42 left in the game and the Sabres pulling their goalie for an extra skater, Nedeljkovic made his mark.
Alex Nedeljkovic celebrates with teammates after scoring
He gathered the puck behind his own net and, from about 180 feet away, fired the puck into the empty net to score and seal the win.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust, who had been on the ice, recalled seeing Nedeljkovic in position to score. “I’m out there and I see a relatively soft rim,” Rust said. “I’m like, ‘He’s getting it. We’re up by two. I know he’s probably shooting it.’ So, I kind of just stood there and watched the rest of however many seconds it was. You see him take off for the bench and everyone just mauled him. It was cool.”
Nedeljkovic also made history in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL as the first goalie to score a goal in all three leagues.
His goal was only the 19th scored by a goalie in NHL history, and he became the 16th goalie to achieve this feat. He’s now the second Penguins goalie to score a goal after Tristan Jarry, who was sent to the AHL on Thursday, became the first to do so on November 30, 2023.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan praised Nedeljkovic’s accomplishment, saying, “It was great. The guys were joking with him. They said all he was missing was a fight for the Gordie Howe hat trick.”
Pittsburgh Penguins fan is seen stealing Puck from young boy
A Pittsburgh Penguins fan caused a stir on Sunday night after taking a puck from a young boy who wanted it, leading to a lot of anger from other fans.
The incident took place at PPG Paints Arena during a Penguins game against Tampa Bay. The game was tied 1-1 in the second period when the commotion happened. According to Kevin Acklin, the Penguins’ President of Business Operations, a puck had flown into the netting, and a young boy, who was seated about three or four rows back, shook the glass as the puck fell. An older man then reached down and grabbed the puck.
Fans in the arena were upset by this, and many began recording the scene on their phones. “They started booing this older gentleman fan who by his own right gave the puck to his granddaughter who was about a teenage granddaughter,” Acklin explained. Despite the man giving the puck to his granddaughter, the crowd did not approve of his actions.
After this, a girlfriend or wife of one of the Penguins players went over to the young fan and gave him a puck. “It was a great moment, they hugged. And as the wife or girlfriend was leaving, the grandfather got up and started getting into it with the fans around them,” Acklin said. The situation escalated, and in the viral video, the older man is seen shouting at another fan before walking over to the boy’s mother and arguing with her.
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
The situation grew tense, and Penguins fans continued to boo the man until security escorted him out of the arena. “At that point, it sort of got out of hand and there were some hand gestures, and the older gentleman was escorted out of the building….It’s unfortunate, a lot of passion.
I think the worst thing about it was during that whole iteration, Tampa scored on us, right in front of it and it was a little bit of an uproar,” Acklin said.
Although the Penguins didn’t win the game, both the boy and the man’s granddaughter left with a puck. Acklin reminded everyone that there were two sides to the story. “I just want to caution everybody that there’s always two sides to the story, and I credit our staff, we reached out to both families who both felt that they were in the right,” he said.
Penguins Game Incident Sparks Outrage as Man Grabs Puck Meant for Young Fan
A viral incident at a Pittsburgh Penguins game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 12 sparked outrage among fans after an older man grabbed a puck meant for a young boy in the crowd. The incident began when a puck went into the netting during the second period, and the boy attempted to bring it down by shaking the glass boards. However, as the puck fell, the man stepped in and claimed it for himself, much to the dismay of the audience, who began booing loudly.
The situation escalated further after a Penguins player’s wife noticed the boy’s disappointment and provided him with another puck, leading to cheers from the crowd. This response upset the man, resulting in a heated verbal exchange between him and the boy’s mother. The confrontation appeared to grow more physical when the boy’s mother raised her arm in reaction, and fans in the arena took sides in the dispute, further heightening tensions.
Penguins Game Incident Sparks Outrage as Man Grabs Puck Meant for Young Fan
According to Kevin Acklin, the Penguins’ president of business operations, there are “two sides to the story.” He clarified in an interview with CBS that the man gave the puck to his teenage granddaughter after catching it. Acklin described the entire incident as an unfortunate misunderstanding fueled by the passion of the fans, which eventually spiraled out of control. The older man was ultimately escorted out of the building.
Acklin noted that the situation overshadowed the game, even distracting fans and players during a critical moment when Tampa scored. He also commended the Penguins staff for their handling of the incident and revealed that the organization has since reached out to both families involved, each of whom felt justified in their actions. He characterized the incident as a regrettable display of emotions running high among passionate hockey fans.
The incident underscores the charged atmosphere that can arise in competitive sports, where emotions and loyalties sometimes boil over. Acklin highlighted the organization’s commitment to resolving the matter amicably and expressed gratitude for their staff’s quick response in managing the unexpected conflict. Despite the commotion, the Penguins aimed to maintain a welcoming environment for all attendees moving forward.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins are both struggling as they head into their game on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.
Both teams have lost four of their last six games and are coming off recent defeats.
The Hurricanes were shut out 4-0 at home by the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night, managing only 21 shots on goal.
“We’re so flat, we have no chance the way we’re going right now,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said during a bench interview in the game. “Zero.”
Carolina had just one shot in the first 12 minutes, even with a four-minute power play.
In the second period, while trailing 2-0, the Hurricanes thought they had scored when Jalen Chatfield’s shot deflected in off the skate of Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin. However, Minnesota coach John Hynes challenged the goal for being offside. After a review, it was determined that Jackson Blake was offside when trying to leave the ice during a line change, so the goal was overturned.
Pyotr Kochetkov made 23 saves for Carolina.
Center Jack Drury returned to the lineup for Carolina after missing 10 games due to a broken thumb.
As for the Penguins, they lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Florida Panthers on Friday in Sunrise, Fla.
Rickard Rakell tied the game at 2 with 40 seconds left in regulation with a power-play goal after goalie Tristan Jarry was pulled for a 6-on-4 advantage. This forced overtime and allowed Pittsburgh to secure at least one point.
“I thought we played extremely hard. It was another really good hockey game,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “We had a lot of good opportunities to score.
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
I loved our compete level down the stretch. We got one with the goalie pulled on the power play at the end. I just love the compete of this group right now, I love the intentions. We’re trying to play the game the right way.”
Sidney Crosby also scored a power-play goal, and Jarry made 31 saves.
“I thought the guys did a great job,” Jarry said. “We were able to get a power play at the end and that really helped. The guys executed and did what we talked about. Learning from the last game — a 4-2 loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday — really helped us. I thought we brought a really good game tonight.”
Defenseman Owen Pickering returned after missing four games due to a concussion, getting nearly 14 minutes of ice time with a shot on goal. However, forward Philip Tomasino left the game in the third period with what looked like a lower-body injury after sliding into the boards.
Martin Necas leads the Hurricanes with 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists). Jack Roslovic has the team’s most goals with 17. Sebastian Aho is second in points with 40 and is tied with Andrei Svechnikov for third with 12 goals.
Crosby leads the Penguins with 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists). Rakell (18 goals, 14 assists) and Evgeny Malkin (8 goals, 24 assists) are tied for second with 32 points. Rakell is the team’s top scorer, and Bryan Rust is second with 15 goals.
In their first game of 2025, the Pittsburgh Penguins took the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, to the limit. The game went into overtime, and the Penguins eventually lost in a shootout.
Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh, but both were unable to score in the shootout. Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell scored for Florida, winning the one-on-one contest. This marked the Penguins’ second consecutive loss, which is their first two-game losing streak since November 23.
Special Teams Played a Big Role The Penguins started the game down 1-0. Crosby tied the game in the second period with a power-play goal. In the third period, Matthew Tkachuk gave Florida a 2-1 lead with another power-play goal. However, Pittsburgh forced overtime when Rakell scored on a power play with 40 seconds remaining.
The Penguins earned a point thanks to their power-play unit, which went 2-for-7. They had two four-minute power-play opportunities but only managed to score once on one of those. Since December 1, Pittsburgh has had the second-best power-play in the NHL, converting at 31.8%. Their success on special teams has helped keep them tied with the Ottawa Senators for the second wild-card spot.
Concerns Without Tomasino Out of the 18 players in the Penguins’ lineup, only two played less than ten minutes—Kevin Hayes, who was playing his first game in nine games, and Philip Tomasino, who was injured after crashing awkwardly into the boards.
Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs
Tomasino, who has scored four goals and seven points in 15 games with the Penguins, has been an important player for the team. He has been dynamic on the power play and has been filling in well when needed. If Tomasino is out for a long period, it could hurt the team, as he has added a lot to their offense.
Changes to the Lineup? On Friday, Hayes replaced Anthony Beauvillier in the lineup. If Tomasino is out for the next game, it’s possible Beauvillier could return. There’s also the possibility of Jesse Puljujarvi getting another chance, despite the Penguins putting him on waivers this week and him clearing.
When Kris Letang returns from injury, there will be another decision to make about who will come out of the lineup. It could be Pierre-Olivier Joseph or rookie Owen Pickering, who recently returned from a concussion.
Earlier on Friday, the Penguins traded for defenseman Colton Poolman, who will play in the AHL for now. The Penguins may still make other moves.
Statistically, Pittsburgh continues to lead the league in goals against, which suggests there is still room for improvement.
The Florida Panthers, the defending Stanley Cup champions, will finish their disappointing five-game homestand on Friday night when they play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sunrise, Florida.
This game will be the second of a back-to-back for Florida, which lost 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. With that defeat, the Panthers’ record on the homestand dropped to 1-3-0. They had previously lost 4-0 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens, but managed to beat the New York Rangers 5-3 on Monday.
The loss to the Hurricanes was particularly tough because the Panthers wasted a great performance by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The 36-year-old stopped 36 shots after giving up a goal to Brent Burns just 35 seconds into the game.
However, with 7:30 left in the game, Jaccob Slavin scored a controversial game-winning goal.
Slavin’s goal came after Carolina’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi collided with Bobrovsky. Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk reacted by pinning Kotkaniemi to the ice. A shot by Sean Walker hit both Bobrovsky and Kotkaniemi in the crease, and the puck went straight to Slavin, who scored from the left circle.
Bobrovsky, who finished with 37 saves on 39 shots, argued that the goal should have been disallowed due to goalie interference. However, the goal stood because the officials ruled that Tkachuk had prevented Kotkaniemi from leaving the crease after the collision.
“It (stinks),” said Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling. “Bob had an unreal game, and then to see that goal, whatever. We’re not going to complain about it, but it is what it is.”
Florida coach Paul Maurice chose not to challenge the goal for interference. “The referee announced his decision at the time he called the goal,” Maurice said. “He felt the player had been held in, so there was no point in the challenge.”
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Carolina sealed the win with an empty-net goal by Martin Necas in the final minute.
“Bob’s a good pro,” Maurice said. “He’s had a lot of nights where he’s been the difference for us. Tough one tonight for him, but he played very well so he gets to come to the rink proud (Friday).”
The Penguins come into this game after a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on New Year’s Eve, marking their 13th loss in 19 road games (6-10-3). Drew O’Connor scored both goals for Pittsburgh, marking his second career two-goal game. He also scored twice in a 7-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 23, 2021, and ended a 32-game goal drought, bringing his season total to five.
“I told him before the game that his last game was the best he had played in months,” said Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan. “I said if he continued to play like that, he was going to score, so I was happy that he was able to break through.”
This will be the second of three meetings between the teams this season. The Penguins won the first matchup 5-4 in overtime on Dec. 3 in Pittsburgh, despite blowing a three-goal lead in the third period. Bryan Rust scored the overtime goal.
