Carolina @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 19, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 2, Carolina 3

The Carolina Hurricanes not only strengthened their grip on the top wild card in the Eastern Conference but bolstered their chances to sneak into the top three in the Metropolitan Division. After halting a two-game skid with Saturday's 5-2 win over Philadelphia, Carolina visits Pittsburgh on Sunday with a chance to pull into a tie with the third-place Penguins.

Seeking to advance to the postseason for the first time since 2008-09, the Hurricanes rebounded from back-to-back losses to Metropolitan-leading Washington to stay ahead of Columbus and Montreal for seventh in the conference. “You want to play in these games and in the playoffs and it’s a lot more fun now to be doing that,” defenseman Dougie Hamilton told reporters after Carolina posted its 19th victory in 28 games (19-8-1) since the All-Star break. The Penguins had their three-game winning streak halted in Friday's 3-1 home loss to Nashville, squandering both a chance to keep pace with the New York Islanders for second in the division and forcing them to look over their shoulder at the Hurricanes. "At the end of the day we have to find a way to win the game," captain Sidney Crosby told reporters of Sunday's matchup. "Late in the season like this every point is important, but especially against a team that is right there with us."

TV: 5 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FS Carolina, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (43-28-7): Carolina entered Saturday's pivotal matchup against Philadelphia in an 0-for-15 rut on the power play in the previous nine games, but it converted on both opportunities with the man advantage to ignite the victory. "The power play came through big," captain Justin Williams told reporters. "Hopefully it will be a stepping stone to better things. Seeing the puck go in today was important." Hamilton scored his 16th goal overall and 13th since the start of the calendar year Saturday - the most among NHL defensemen in that span.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (42-25-11): There was a welcome site at Saturday's practice as center Evgeni Malkin, out the past six games due to an upper-body injury, skated with the team wearing a non-contact jersey. "The more games (I play before playoffs) is better, but I can't rush right now," Malkin told reporters. "There are four games left and I can't play all of them, maybe one or two. It's good for me if I can play two or three games. We'll see how I feel (on Monday)." Phil Kessel had an assist Friday to give him five during a three-game point streak.

OVERTIME

1. Carolina has won two of the three meetings this season, including a 3-2 shootout victory on March 19 and a 4-0 shutout in Pittsburgh on Feb. 5.

2. Crosby, who is mired in an eight-game goal drought, has four assists in three matchups versus Carolina this season.

3. Hurricanes F Teuvo Teravainen netted his 20th goal Saturday, the first time since 2009-10 that more than three players have scored 20 with the team.

PREDICTION: Penguins 3, Hurricanes 2