Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The NHL slate on Wednesday features a game between the Carolina Hurricanes (42-19-6) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-15), starting at 7 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center and broadcast on ESPN+. The Hurricanes are first in the Eastern Conference (90 points), and the Penguins are fifth in the Eastern Conference (83 points).
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Hurricanes vs. Penguins: March 18 Viewing Options
- Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
- Venue: Lenovo Center
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Hurricanes' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.43 | 6th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.9 | 7th |
| Shots | 32 | 2nd |
| Shots Allowed | 24 | 1st |
| Power Play % | 21.89% | 13th |
| Penalty Kill % | 79.47% | 14th |
Penguins' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.42 | 8th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.9 | 7th |
| Shots | 28.8 | 8th |
| Shots Allowed | 27.1 | 11th |
| Power Play % | 25.13% | 3rd |
| Penalty Kill % | 84.5% | 1st |
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Hurricanes vs. Penguins Top Players
Hurricanes
- Sebastian Aho is one of Carolina's top contributors this season with 68 points. He has averaged 0.4 goals per game, shooting 15.1%.
- Andrei Svechnikov has 25 goals and 34 assists for Carolina to compile 59 total points (0.9 per game).
- Through 67 games, Nikolaj Ehlers has proven himself as a scoring option for Carolina. He has 53 points (20 goals and 33 assists).
- Across 32 games played, Brandon Bussi has a goaltending record of 25-6-1. During those games, he's allowed 79 goals while recording 667 saves.
Penguins
- Sidney Crosby's 59 points make him a vital offensive option for Pittsburgh. He has 27 goals and 32 assists in 56 games.
- Bryan Rust is one of the impact players on offense for Pittsburgh with 53 total points (0.8 per game), with 25 goals and 28 assists in 60 games.
- Anthony Mantha has 52 points so far, including 26 goals and 26 assists.
- Stuart Skinner has a 20-13-8 record this season, with an .890 save percentage (50th in the league). He has 901 saves, and has allowed 111 goals (2.8 goals against average).
Hurricanes vs. Penguins Injury Report
Hurricanes
Shayne Gostisbehere: Day-To-Day (Lower Body),
Pyotr Kochetkov: Out (Hip)
Penguins
Ryan Graves: Out (Undisclosed),
Filip Hallander: Out (Leg),
Samuel Girard: Day-To-Day (Upper Body),
Kevin Hayes: Day-To-Day (Upper Body),
Blake Lizotte: Out (Upper Body)
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Hurricanes' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/12/2026 | Blues | L 3-1 | Home |
| 3/14/2026 | Lightning | W 4-2 | Away |
| 3/17/2026 | Blue Jackets | L 5-1 | Away |
| 3/18/2026 | Penguins | - | Home |
| 3/20/2026 | Maple Leafs | - | Away |
| 3/22/2026 | Penguins | - | Away |
| 3/24/2026 | Canadiens | - | Away |
Penguins' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/12/2026 | Golden Knights | L 6-2 | Away |
| 3/14/2026 | Mammoth | W 4-3 | Away |
| 3/16/2026 | Avalanche | W 7-2 | Away |
| 3/18/2026 | Hurricanes | - | Away |
| 3/21/2026 | Jets | - | Home |
| 3/22/2026 | Hurricanes | - | Home |
| 3/24/2026 | Avalanche | - | Home |