Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction 3/18/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes meet Wednesday in NHL action at the Lenovo Center. Here’s a Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes prediction. This article will include a Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes pick.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Mammoth and Avs and play the Jets next. The Penguins have lost 5 of their last 8 games.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.42 goals per game and are scoring 25.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 27 goals, Erik Karlsson has 42 assists, and Bryan Rust has 153 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 2.9 goals per game and are killing 84.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Arturs Silovs has allowed 90 goals on 849 shots faced, while Tristan Jarry has given up 36 goals on 396 shots.

Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Lightning and lost to the Blue Jackets, and they play the Maple Leafs next. The Hurricanes have won 9 of their last 13 games.

The Carolina Hurricanes are averaging 3.43 goals per game and are scoring on 21.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Seth Jarvis leads Carolina with 28 goals, Sebastian Aho has 44 assists, and Andrei Svechnikov has 173 shots on goal. Defensively, the Carolina Hurricanes are allowing 2.9 goals per game and are killing 79.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Frederik Andersen has given up 85 goals on 667 shots faced, while Brandon Bussi has allowed 79 goals on 752 shots.

Why the Carolina Hurricanes will win

• The Hurricanes have won each of their last nine games against the Penguins at Lenovo Center.
• The Penguins have lost 10 of their last 12 games at Lenovo Center.
• The Hurricanes have covered the puck line in four of their last five games as a favorite when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Penguins have lost the second period in five of their last six road games against Metropolitan Division opponents when tied after the first period.

Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win

• The Penguins have won each of their last five games as underdogs following a road win.
• The Hurricanes have lost three of their last four games as a home favorite when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last nine games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Hurricanes have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as home favorites on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The underdogs have won the second period in each of the Hurricanes’ last four games at Lenovo Center.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Hurricanes’ last six games at Lenovo Center against opponents on a winning streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Penguins’ last five night games has gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in eight of the Hurricanes’ last nine games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Penguins’ last four road games against the Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts

• Seth Jarvis has scored at least one goal in four of the Hurricanes’ last five games against Eastern Conference opponents at Lenovo Center.
• Sebastian Aho has recorded at least one assist in each of his last seven appearances against the Penguins at Lenovo Center.
• Mike Reilly has recorded two assists against the Penguins this season—the most against any opponent.

Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts

• Anthony Mantha has scored at least one goal in four of the Penguins’ last five games.
• Erik Karlsson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Penguins’ last six road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Bryan Rust has scored two goals against the Hurricanes this season—the most against any opponent.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Carolina Hurricanes rank T7th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.90).
• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 1st in the league for shots against per game this season (24.1).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of six teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank T7th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.90).

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction

We saw the Penguins and Canes play 8 days ago and they produced 9 combined goals. Each of the last four games between these teams has produced at least 6 goals. The Penguins have found a spark offensively all of a sudden, while the Canes have allowed 4 or more goals in 4 of their last 7 games. There’s a lot of offense all of a sudden here and I doubt the Hurricanes will be better after playing last night. I expect some fireworks. Give me the over in this showdown between two playoff contenders.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Over 6.5