The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 Sunday evening at PPG Paints Arena. Patric Hornqvist, Matt Cullen and Garrett Wilson scored the Penguins goals. Goaltender Matt Murray stopped 37 of 38 shots, and the Penguins blocked 23 shots in the game.
The Pens will visit Detroit Tuesday in the first game of a home-and-home series with the Red Wings. A Penguins win would clinch a playoff spot. They have three regular-season games remaining and now lead Columbus by three points in the standings. They Pens lead Carolina by four points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes now have the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, one point in front of Montreal.
The Pens are two points behind the second-place New York Islanders. Washington is atop the division, five points in front of the Pens. The Penguins completed the month of March with a 10-3-3 record.