Analysis: Pittsburgh - Carolina

After the Christmas holidays, we return to the NHL rink, where the Penguins will host Carolina Hurricanes at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Classification and teams’ condition:
Pittsburgh and Carolina are fighting in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins earned 44 points (20 wins, 15 defeats) in 35 games. The Hurricanes have 30 points (12 wins, 25 defeats) as they played two games more.

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Potential and team situation:
The Penguins won three games in a row against Chicago, Buffalo and Winnipeg. Not so long ago they had the best home balance in the whole NHL. Defeats against Boston and Detroit led to Penguins slightly dropping in the classification. It should be noted that the hosts lost at the Consol Energy Center (five times this season) only to the leaders of the league. We should also pay attention to the fact that Pittsburgh coach Dan Bysmla had huge problems with the squad. Sidney Crosby’s and Kris Letang’s absence is a great loss for the team. Nevertheless, the absence of Derrick Engelland and Paul Martin will also affect the team’s game. December, as you can see, was not successful for the Penguins. The great shape of Evgeni Malkin and James Neal may serve as a consolation. The Russian player recovered his effectiveness, who is the best hockey player in the team having 25 assists on his account. Neal is a born striker, who has scored 20 goals in the 2011/12 season. Both players won 74 points for the Penguins in the Canadian system and became the best duet in the NHL.

Jeff Skinner - the best striker of Carolina - was injured during a training session before the match against Phoenix Coyotes and could not play in the next two games against Ottawa and New Jersey. Surprisingly, Carolina won against both teams without its best player. All this thanks to the great game of the second and the third forwards – the Finnish Tuomo Ruutu and Brandon Sutter. In addition to Skinner, the defender Joni Pitkanen and goalkeeper Brian Boucher will also miss the match against the Penguins. The visiting team should seriously worry about the trip to Pennsylvania, as this season it has been playing poorly in the away matches, where it won only 4 out of 13 meetings. It lost the last three matches in Winnipeg, Toronto and Florida.

History of the meetings:
Carolina vs. Pittsburgh is usually a very interesting game. This season, Carolina has hosted the team from Pennsylvania twice (5:3, 2:3). The Penguins led the last season; they won 3 out of 4 games, this season they won twice at home (3:2, 5:4).

Tips and justification:

The Penguins had a successful week. They won 3 matches in Buffalo, Chicago and Winnipeg. One of the weakest teams of the East - Carolina Hurricanes - will be their opponent. The guests have won the two last matches at home, but their away matches balance is not very good - 4 wins and 13 defeats. Moreover, in December, 4 main players left the team: Brent, Skinner, Pitkanen and Boucher. The last two matches of these teams in Pittsburgh ended in a victory for the local club 3:2 and 5:4. The Penguins have the advantage of their own arena; they lost only to very strong teams at home.

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