RALEIGH, N.C. — In an electrifying matchup on Sunday night, Sebastian Aho netted a decisive goal just 1:30 into overtime, securing a 4-3 victory for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Aho also contributed two assists to the team’s effort. Seth Jarvis was another standout performer, scoring twice, while Jalen Chatfield added one goal. With this win, the Hurricanes have asserted their dominance over the Penguins, improving their record to 3-0 against them this season. Goalie Dustin Tokarski made 16 saves for Carolina during the game.
For the Penguins, Kevin Hayes, Michael Bunting, and Erik Karlsson each found the back of the net. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 26 shots to keep his team competitive.
The Penguins struck early, establishing a 2-0 lead within the first six minutes, thanks to goals from Hayes and Bunting. However, the Hurricanes responded with resilience; Aho assisted on Jarvis’ initial goal before setting up Chatfield, leveling the game at 2-2 with 7:15 remaining in the second period. Jarvis then capitalized again, putting Carolina ahead 3-2 with a goal, assisted by Andrei Svechnikov, less than four minutes before the second intermission.
Looking at the performance of each team, the Penguins have faced difficulties away from home since their impressive 9-2 win against Montreal on December 12. The contributions from star players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been inconsistent during this stretch, as Crosby logged one goal and one assist, while Malkin had yet to score and managed three assists in these recent road outings.
Conversely, the Hurricanes’ early setback of 2-0 mirrored their previous day’s defeat, a 4-0 loss to Minnesota. Coach Rod Brind’Amour is seeking to enhance his team’s consistency, as the Hurricanes have been experiencing a pattern of alternating wins and losses over their last six games.
A key moment in the game occurred when the Hurricanes, boasting the second-best penalty kill in the NHL, successfully killed off a penalty late in the third period after Chatfield was penalized for delay of game with three minutes remaining.
Notable achievements emerged from the match as well: Aho’s overtime goal marked his 600th career point in his ninth season with the Hurricanes, while Jarvis reached the milestone of his 100th career assist during the second period.
Looking ahead, the Penguins are set to host the Columbus team on Tuesday, while the Hurricanes will head to Tampa Bay the same day.