Mar 18, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) battle over the puck during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory-Imagn Images

Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction 3/22/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

Pick details

MATCHUP Carolina Hurricanes Pittsburgh Penguins
Team Records 44-19-6 35-18-16
Spread -1.5 170 +1.5 -205
Moneyline -142 +120
Total Over 6.5 (-112) Under 6.5 (-108)
Where PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
When Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time 03:00 PM EDT
TV ESPN+

In this article, we will formulate a Hurricanes vs Penguins Prediction for this NHL game on Sunday, March 22nd. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Pittsburgh Penguins Preview


The Penguins have 86 points this season with a 35-18-16 record, and are 42-27 ATS and 38-29 in over/under. They have a 17-9-8 home record and a 18-9-8 road record and are sitting 2nd in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 5-4 home shootout win over the Jets, and their previous three games were a 6-5 road overtime loss to the Hurricanes, a 7-2 road win over the Avalanche, and a 4-3 road win over the Mammoth.

Offensively, the Penguins are averaging 3.45 goals per game and are scoring 24.9% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.96 goals per game and are killing 84.2% of their opponent’s power plays.

Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with 62 points and 28 goals, while Erik Karlsson leads the team in assists with 43. Stuart Skinner is the starting goalie for the Penguins, and he has a 20-13-9 record, with 2.85 GAA and .890 SV%. Arturs Silovs is the backup goalie and he has a 16-9-8 record, with 2.92 GAA and .894 SV%.

Carolina Hurricanes Preview


The Hurricanes have 94 points this season with a 44-19-6 record, and are 26-43 ATS and 38-29 in over/under. They have a 25-9-2 home record and a 19-10-4 road record and are sitting 1st in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 4-3 road overtime win over the Maple Leafs, and their previous three games were a 6-5 home overtime win over the Penguins, a 5-1 road loss to the Blue Jackets, and a 4-2 road win over the Lightning.

Offensively, the Hurricanes are averaging 3.48 goals per game and are scoring 22.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.93 goals per game and are killing 79.6% of their opponent’s power plays.

Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with 71 points and 24 goals, adding a team-high 47 assists. Brandon Bussi is the starting goalie for the Hurricanes, and he has a 26-6-1 record, with 2.47 GAA and .896 SV%. Frederik Andersen is the backup goalie and he has a 12-11-5 record, with 3.19 GAA and .872 SV%.

Carolina Hurricanes @ Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Trends: March 22, 2026


Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win

  • The underdogs have won five of the Hurricanes’ last six games at PPG Paints Arena.
  • The Hurricanes have lost six of their last eight games as road favorites following a road win.
  • The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last 10 games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
  • The Hurricanes have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents following an overtime win.
  • The Penguins have won the first period in eight of their last nine home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Why the Carolina Hurricanes will win

  • The Hurricanes have won each of their last six games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
  • The Penguins have lost each of their last five games against opponents on a winning streak.
  • The road team has covered the puck line in nine of the Penguins’ last 10 games.
  • The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four home games.
  • The Penguins have lost the third period in eight of their last nine games as home underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents when trailing after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

  • Each of the Penguins’ last eight games have gone OVER the total goals line.
  • Eight of the last nine day games between teams from the same division have gone UNDER the total goals line.
  • Each of the Hurricanes’ last four day games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
  • The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in 17 of the Penguins’ last 18 games following a shootout win.
  • The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Hurricanes’ last seven road games.

Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts

  • Sidney Crosby has scored a goal in seven of the Penguins’ last eight home games against the Hurricanes.
  • Sidney Crosby has recorded at least one assist in each of his last seven appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.
  • Erik Karlsson has scored a goal in each of his last three appearances – equal-longest active streak in the league.

Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts

  • Sebastian Aho has scored a goal in each of the Hurricanes’ last three games against opponents who are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back.
  • Nikolaj Ehlers has recorded at least one assist in each of the Hurricanes’ last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
  • Mark Jankowski has scored two goals against the Penguins this season – most against any opponent.

Matchup/League Facts

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (84.24%).
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins rank T4th in the league in power play percentage this season (24.87%).
  • The Carolina Hurricanes rank 4th in the league for goals per game this season (3.48).
  • The Carolina Hurricanes are one of five teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.

Hurricanes vs Penguins Prediction


The Hurricanes are 2-1 in their three meetings against the Penguins this season, having lost their only visit in Pittsburgh by 5-1 but are 7-3 in their last 10 head-to-head meetings.

In this Hurricanes vs Penguins Prediction, the Hurricanes are coming as -140 road favorites. Both teams have been in good form lately, with a 3-1 record in their last 4 games each, but the Penguins are on the second leg of a home back-to-back. The Canes have back-to-back road defeats and lost in Pittsburgh earlier this season so I cannot pick them as such big favorites. I like the over in this one, as both teams are a perfect 10-0 to the over in their last 10 games combined and their last two meetings between those two teams this season had 11 and 9 total goals. Take the over 6.5 in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Over 6.5