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Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) congratulates goaltender Tristan Jarry after defeating the Boston Bruins 4-2 in an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.
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Penguins bracing for Hurricanes in Sunday showdown of the Metropolitian's top two teams

AP

Penguins bracing for Hurricanes in Sunday showdown of the Metropolitian's top two teams

The last time the Penguins played the Carolina Hurricanes was nearly two years ago in Pittsburgh, on a sunny Sunday afternoon before the storm rolled in.

Trade deadline pickup Patrick Marleau got his first and only goal with the Penguins. Justin Schultz set up Evgeni Malkin for a power-play tally. Tristan Jarry, trying to unseat Matt Murray for the No. 1 goalie gig, was in net. But the Hurricanes, thanks to a couple of goals from Morgan Geekie, left town with the 6-2 win.

That was Pittsburgh’s last home game before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the NHL four days later. Due to the league’s temporary realignment last season along with its intradivision schedule, they haven’t seen each other since.

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“I don’t have a lot of recollection of that game. It seems like it was an eternity ago,” coach Mike Sullivan said after Saturday’s practice in Cranberry. “A lot has changed in the world. A lot has changed in the world of hockey. But I’ll tell you what hasn’t changed is that the Carolina Hurricanes are a really good hockey team.”

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They will get to see firsthand Sunday afternoon, when the Hurricanes visit PPG Paints Arena for a clash between two of the Metropolitan Division’s top teams. It is a measuring-stick game for both teams and a potential playoff preview.

The Penguins and Hurricanes are tied for the Metropolitan Division lead with 70 points in the standings. However, the Hurricanes have played three fewer games and are currently a top-three NHL team in terms of points percentage.

The Hurricanes have had five winning streaks of four games or more, including a 9-0 start to the season. They have both a top-five offense and defense, plus the NHL’s top-ranked penalty kill and a power play clicking at 24.8%. Their plus-53 goal differential is also in the top five and is 19 better than the Penguins.

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Asked what qualities have differentiated the Hurricanes from other teams, Sullivan offered up a description that sure sounded a lot like his own stellar squad.

“They have a real balanced attack with a very mobile defense corps,” Sullivan said. “They’re well-coached. They play an in-your-face game in all three zones. They’re very aggressive and they’re going to challenge their opponents to have to beat that aggression. And they have had success with their team game.”

They have 10 players with eight or more goals, including Pittsburgh product Vincent Trocheck, free-agent pickup Tony DeAngelo and 19-year-old Seth Jarvis.

Sebastian Aho leads the way for Carolina. The All-Star center has 51 points.

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“They have some guys on their team that the hockey world is starting to recognize as elite players, like Aho for example or [Andrei] Svechnikov or [Jaccob] Slavin on the blue line,” Sullivan said. “These guys are really, really good players. They’re some of the best players in the league and their games are evolving.”

That is something that Brock McGinn witnessed up close the last few years.

The grind-line forward spent the first nine years of his NHL career with the Hurricanes before signing with the Penguins last summer. He was along for the ride as they went from a last-place team in 2014-15 to plucky conference finalist in 2018-19 to a present-day juggernaut under coach Rod Brind’Amour.

“There was kind of a culture change there when Roddy stepped behind the bench,” said McGinn, who has fit in well here. “He made that team work very hard and I think follow the systems very good. All of the young guys and the top players there, they were held accountable. And I think that’s something they need.”

One thing missing in recent seasons was good goaltending. The Hurricanes have gotten that from Toronto Maple Leafs castoff Frederik Andersen, who this month teamed up with Jarry to backstop the Metro to the All-Star Game win.

“He’s a great goalie,” Jarry said of his Carolina counterpart. “It’s great that he’s having that success. They’re a great team and I’m excited to play against them.”

The Penguins, whose four-game winning streak was snapped Thursday in Toronto, are heading into maybe their most challenging stretch of the season.

Eight of their next 31 games are against the Hurricanes and New York Rangers, two Metro rivals who rank in the league’s top 10 in points percentage. They’ll also face Florida, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Vegas and Nashville in the next few weeks.

The Penguins aren’t looking ahead. Sounds like they’ve had Sunday circled.

“It will be a good test for us,” McGinn. “Our team is looking forward to it.”

Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel.

First Published: February 19, 2022, 6:45 p.m.

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Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) congratulates goaltender Tristan Jarry after defeating the Boston Bruins 4-2 in an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.  (AP)
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