Rare 2-goal night from Brett Pesce lifts Pens over Hurricanes

Brett Pesce's second goal of the game was the overtime winner as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Pesce, who posted the winner 1:41 into the extra session, also scored the game's first goal, and Jordan Martinook had the other. Antti Raanta made 38 saves as the Hurricanes stretched their points streak to eight games.

Jake Guentzel's goal with 13:15 remaining gave the Penguins a chance, and Bryan Rust's goal with an extra attacker with 52.7 seconds forced overtime. Rust also had an assist as the Penguins reached the midway mark in their regular-season schedule with at least a point in 12 of their last 15 games.

Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry stopped 32 shots. Jarry has gone four consecutive outings without a victory, though this was just his second full game in January.

Pesce, a defenseman, has only three goals this season and was his first multiple-goal game since he had two on Jan. 12, 2023.

Pesce's first of the night came 6:12 into the game. His other goal this season came Oct. 17 at San Jose.

Less than three minutes later, Martinook made a powerful move in front of the net to post his third goal in five games.

The Penguins launched 16 shots on goal in the second period and still couldn't solve Raanta. The Penguins were frustrated as they had three power plays in the second.

Guentzel scored his 19th goal of the season as Pittsburgh capitalized when the Hurricanes failed to clear the zone. The tally snapped Guentzel's three-goal stretch without a goal that marked his longest drought since the latter part of November.

Rust tallied his 11th of the season but his first since Nov. 28, though he was out for most of December with an injury. This was his sixth game back.

Saturday night's outcome reversed Pittsburgh's shootout home victory over Carolina last month.