The Carolina Hurricanes head to PPG Paints Arena to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Tuesday night matchup between Metropolitan Division opponents. Carolina enters this contest having defeated the New York Rangers in dramatic fashion in overtime on Monday night. Pittsburgh comes in off a strong offensive performance against the Chicago Blackhawks, where Justin Brazeau starred with a hat trick in a 7-3 victory. Before this game begins in Pittsburgh, continue reading to get my Hurricanes vs Penguins prediction.
Our Hurricanes vs Penguins Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 4/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins
- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 7:00 PM
- Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent Form
Carolina has shown grit of late, most recently rallying back to earn a 3-2 overtime victory against the Rangers on Monday night. Jackson Blake netted the overtime winner while Sebastian Aho remained active offensively with a goal and an assist. Rookie netminder Brandon Bussi continues to impress with a strong record. Carolina has won two games in a row coming into this contest and will try to secure a third straight tonight.
Pittsburgh’s recent form has been mixed, but Monday night’s 7-3 win against Chicago was impressive from an offensive standpoint. Justin Brazeau’s hat trick highlighted the Penguins’ ability to generate offense, though consistency has been an issue on a game-to-game basis. The Penguins have alternated wins and losses over the last four outings and will look for a second straight win here.
Goaltending
For Carolina, Brandon Bussi has emerged as a reliable option with an impressive record this season. With the anticipated absence of Pyotr Kochetkov due to a season-ending injury, Bussi’s continued performance will be key if Carolina wants to limit Pittsburgh’s opportunities. On the Pittsburgh side, Stuart Skinner will likely start here. Skinner’s GAA is just under 3.00 for the season as he looks to prove that the Pens made a good choice in trading for him from the Edmonton Oilers.
Key Skaters
Carolina’s Sebastian Aho remains the focal point of their offense. His ability to create scoring chances and produce in clutch moments has helped him to rack up 35 points on the season to lead the Canes. Pittsburgh’s offense is led by veterans like Sidney Crosby, who continues to pile up points. However, Pittsburgh’s injury history this season, including the absence of Evgeni Malkin on injured reserve, has challenged their ability to score consistently.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Sebastian Aho | |
| Sidney Crosby | |
| Erik Karlsson |
Betting Trends & H2H
- This is the first matchup of the season between the Hurricanes and Penguins. They will play a total of four times in the regular season.
- Carolina is 14-24 on the puckline this season.
- The Penguins are 23-14 on the puckline going into this game.
Hurricanes vs Penguins Model Projection
Final Thoughts
