The Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh tonight, December 30, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET. Here's a look at the projected lineups and what to expect from each team.
Carolina Hurricanes (24-11-3)
The Hurricanes enter the game with a record of 24-11-3. The projected lineup is as follows:
- Forwards: Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Logan Stankoven / Nikolaj Ehlers - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Jackson Blake / William Carrier - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook / Taylor Hall - Mark Jankowski - Eric Robinson
- Defense: K'Andre Miller - Jalen Chatfield / Alexander Nikishin - Sean Walker / Mike Reilly - Joel Nystrom
- Goalies: Frederik Andersen (Likely Starter), Brandon Bussi
Key injuries for the Hurricanes include Seth Jarvis (upper body), Jaccob Slavin (upper body), Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body), and Shayne Gostisbehere (undisclosed). Kochetkov is expected to miss a significant amount of time due to his lower-body injury, potentially the rest of the season, after undergoing surgery. Andersen is expected to start after Bussi's recent performance against the New York Rangers.
Pittsburgh Penguins (16-12-9)
The Penguins come into the game with a 16-12-9 record. Here's their projected lineup:
- Forwards: Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust / Anthony Mantha - Tommy Novak - Justin Brazeau / Rutger McGroarty - Ben Kindel - Ville Koivunen / Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
- Defense: Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson / Brett Kulak - Kris Letang / Ryan Shea - Jack St. Ivany
- Goalies: Stuart Skinner, Arturs Silovs
The Penguins are dealing with injuries to Evgeni Malkin (upper body), Caleb Jones (lower body), and Filip Hallander (blood clot). Erik Karlsson is expected to play despite missing practice due to illness. Yegor Chinakhov, recently acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, will not be playing.
Game Notes
The Hurricanes are favored to win the game with a moneyline of -130, while the Penguins are underdogs at +108. The over/under for the game is set at 6.5 goals.
Andrei Svechnikov leads the Hurricanes in scoring over the last 10 games with 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists), while Bryan Rust leads the Penguins with 11 points (7 goals, 4 assists) in the same span.
