Walker's OT goal lifts Hurricanes past Penguins 6-5 in matchup of Metropolitan Division's top teams
Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) controls the puck in front of Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
RALEIGH, N.C. — Sean Walker scored with 28.3 seconds left in overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes beat Pittsburgh 6-5 on Wednesday night, spoiling Sidney Crosby’s return to the Penguins' lineup.
Jackson Blake had a goal and two assists, Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Walker each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Jordan Martinook and K’Andre Miller also scored and Nikolaj Ehlers finished with three assists. Frederik Andersen made 30 saves.
Erik Karlsson had two goals and an assist, Crosby added a goal and an assist, and Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel also scored for Pittsburgh. Stuart Skinner stopped 38 shots in the second matchup in nine nights between the top teams in the Metropolitan Division that went beyond regulation.
Pittsburgh completed a 2-1-2 trip that began with last week’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Eastern Conference- and Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes.
Each team scored twice in the final 7:01 of regulation, beginning with Stankoven’s goal and capped by Miller’s score with 2:51 left. In between, Karlsson and Kindel scored in a 23-second span.
Walker’s goal was his third in an eight-game stretch.
After Stankoven’s goal with 7:01 left gave the Hurricanes a 4-3 lead, Karlsson and Kindel scored 23 seconds apart for the Penguins.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal along the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
Crosby missed 11 games after suffering a lower-body injury while playing for Canada in the Milan Cortina Olympics. He logged about 18½ minutes in his return, scoring the Penguins’ first goal midway through the second period. It was his 28th of the season.
Karlsson’s tying goal 59 seconds into the third came on a 5-on-3 power play to begin a period that included seven total goals.
Martinook’s short-handed goal was the only scoring in the first period.
Up next
Penguins: Host Winnipeg on Saturday.
Carolina Hurricanes' Sean Walker, center, celebrates his game winning overtime goal with teammates Sebastian Aho (20) and Seth Jarvis (24) at an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
Hurricanes: At Toronto on Friday.
